Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 20 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $332k less ($246,700 vs $578,900)
39% less violent crime than South Gate
23% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,790 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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 Income
$11,790
$78,978 vs $67,188/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
39% lower
318.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$332k less
$246,700 vs $578,900
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 20 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 20 and South Gate wins 3. 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $578,900 median home), income ($78,978 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and South Gate, CA are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.