Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories
Henderson
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
14% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,333 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rio Rancho
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($246,700 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,641)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Henderson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 105°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Median income trails Henderson by $6,333/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Median Income
$6,333
$85,311 vs $78,978/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
14% lower
272.4 vs 318.2 per 100k
Henderson
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 95.5°F
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$181k less
$246,700 vs $427,900
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories. Henderson wins 12 and Rio Rancho wins 10. 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 Henderson to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $246,700 median home), income ($85,311 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Rio Rancho, NM are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.