Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 22 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($246,700 vs $415,300)
70% less violent crime than Tacoma
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,489)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rio Rancho
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
70% lower
318.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$169k less
$246,700 vs $415,300
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 22 categories. Rio Rancho wins 18 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($78,978 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Tacoma, WA are about 1,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.