Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Tucson
Arizona
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $26,929 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Tucson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $366/mo less ($991 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $29k less ($218,200 vs $246,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $26,929/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$26,929
$78,978 vs $52,049/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
46% lower
318.2 vs 588.8 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Median Home Value
$29k less
$218,200 vs $246,700
Tucson
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 95.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 12.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 16 and Tucson wins 7. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $218,200 median home), income ($78,978 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Tucson, AZ are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.