Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
19
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 96°F
Households earn $7,640 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rio Rancho
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($246,700 vs $624,800)
66% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $496/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,853)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $7,640/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$7,640
$86,618 vs $78,978/yr
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
66% lower
318.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$378k less
$246,700 vs $624,800
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
24.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 4 and Rio Rancho wins 19. 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 Richmond to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $246,700 median home), income ($86,618 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.