Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,301 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $544k less ($246,700 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $632/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,989)
30% less violent crime than Fullerton
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $20,301/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$20,301
$99,279 vs $78,978/yr
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
30% lower
318.2 vs 455.3 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$544k less
$246,700 vs $791,000
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 5 and Rio Rancho wins 18. 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 Fullerton to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $246,700 median home), income ($99,279 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.