Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Syracuse
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $35,394 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($117,900 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($932 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $35,394/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$35,394
$78,978 vs $43,584/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
58% lower
318.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$129k less
$117,900 vs $246,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 18 and Syracuse wins 5. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($78,978 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Syracuse, NY are about 1,711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.