Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,357)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $15,977/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
57% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $75k less ($246,700 vs $321,800)
Households earn $15,977 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$15,977
$78,978 vs $63,001/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
57% lower
318.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$75k less
$246,700 vs $321,800
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 7 and Rio Rancho wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fresno to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $246,700 median home), income ($63,001 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.