Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $10,742 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($246,700 vs $488,100)
32% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,689)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $10,742/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$10,742
$89,720 vs $78,978/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
32% lower
318.2 vs 469.3 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$241k less
$246,700 vs $488,100
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 8 and Rio Rancho wins 15. 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 Longmont to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $246,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Rio Rancho, NM are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.