Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ 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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($171,800 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,357)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $18,791/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
26% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $18,791 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$75k less
$171,800 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$18,791
$78,978 vs $60,187/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
26% lower
318.2 vs 427.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 8 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 Pittsburgh to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $246,700 median home), income ($60,187 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.