Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ 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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($215,500 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,357)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $21,441/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
65% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $21,441 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$31k less
$215,500 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$21,441
$78,978 vs $57,537/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
65% lower
318.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 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 18 of 23 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $246,700 median home), income ($57,537 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.