Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 15 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
15
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $7,650/yr
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
72% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Homes cost $105k less ($246,700 vs $351,400)
Households earn $7,650 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$7,650
$78,978 vs $71,328/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
72% lower
318.2 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$105k less
$246,700 vs $351,400
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 7 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 Nashville-Davidson to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $246,700 median home), income ($71,328 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.