Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Vallejo
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($246,700 vs $515,500)
57% less violent crime than Vallejo
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,894)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $7,134/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,134 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Rio Rancho
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
57% lower
318.2 vs 739.8 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$269k less
$246,700 vs $515,500
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$7,134
$86,112 vs $78,978/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 17 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 17 and Vallejo wins 6. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($78,978 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Vallejo, CA are about 883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.