Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
20% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Households earn $7,781 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($246,700 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,638)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.9%)
Median income trails Peoria by $7,781/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$7,781
$86,759 vs $78,978/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
20% lower
254.7 vs 318.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.5°F
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$137k less
$246,700 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 14 and Rio Rancho wins 9. 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 Peoria to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($86,759 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Rio Rancho, NM are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.