Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Riverside
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($246,700 vs $485,500)
46% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $354/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,711)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $4,470/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 50°F
Households earn $4,470 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rio Rancho
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
46% lower
318.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$239k less
$246,700 vs $485,500
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$4,470
$83,448 vs $78,978/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 18 and Riverside wins 5. 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 Rio Rancho to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $485,500 median home), income ($78,978 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Riverside, CA are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.