Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 13 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($246,700 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $585/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,942)
10% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $17,058/yr
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $17,058 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Rio Rancho
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
10% lower
318.2 vs 354.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$467k less
$246,700 vs $714,000
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$17,058
$96,036 vs $78,978/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 110,358 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 13 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 13 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 10. 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 Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $714,000 median home), income ($78,978 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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