Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,357)
Homes cost $41k less ($205,800 vs $246,700)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $20,281/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
81% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $20,281 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$41k less
$205,800 vs $246,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$20,281
$78,978 vs $58,697/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
81% lower
318.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 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 | 363⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 9 and Rio Rancho wins 14. 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 Little Rock to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $246,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Rio Rancho, NM are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.