Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 22 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $716k less ($246,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,132)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $30,576/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,576 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/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
$716k less
$246,700 vs $962,300
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$30,576
$109,554 vs $78,978/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 13.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 22 categories. Rio Rancho wins 10 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($78,978 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Torrance, CA are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.