Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $13,938 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than San Angelo
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($171,700 vs $246,700)
31% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Rent averages $320/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,357)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $13,938/yr
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$13,938
$78,978 vs $65,040/yr
San Angelo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
31% lower
218.2 vs 318.2 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$75k less
$171,700 vs $246,700
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $65,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 22.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 14 and San Angelo 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 Rio Rancho to San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $171,700 median home), income ($78,978 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and San Angelo, TX are about 448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.