Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
South Fulton
Georgia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
32% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,461)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Fulton, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rio Rancho
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$1,490
$78,978 vs $77,488/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
32% lower
318.2 vs 470.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 107,865 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 17 and South Fulton wins 6. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $242,200 median home), income ($78,978 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and South Fulton, GA are about 1,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.