Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,840 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $735k less ($246,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $743/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,100)
34% less violent crime than Pasadena
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $18,840/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$18,840
$97,818 vs $78,978/yr
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
34% lower
318.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$735k less
$246,700 vs $981,600
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena'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 14 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($97,818 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.