Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($246,700 vs $822,600)
56% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,791)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
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
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$2,734
$78,978 vs $76,244/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
56% lower
318.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$576k less
$246,700 vs $822,600
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($76,244 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.