Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 12 of 22 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Santa Clarita
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($246,700 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $958/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,315)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $37,208/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,208 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rio Rancho
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$423k less
$246,700 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$37,208
$116,186 vs $78,978/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
48% lower
165.4 vs 318.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 12 of 22 categories. Rio Rancho wins 12 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $669,200 median home), income ($78,978 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Santa Clarita, CA are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.