Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 20 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
20
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rio Rancho
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $9,541/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($246,700 vs $411,700)
22% less violent crime than Gresham
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Households earn $9,541 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$9,541
$78,978 vs $69,437/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
22% lower
318.2 vs 410.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$165k less
$246,700 vs $411,700
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 20 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 3 and Rio Rancho wins 20. 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 Gresham to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($69,437 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,085 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.