Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rio Rancho, NM
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Waco
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $31,557 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Waco
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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($174,100 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $31,557/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$31,557
$78,978 vs $47,421/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
25% lower
318.2 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$73k less
$174,100 vs $246,700
Waco
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,700 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,978 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,351 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories. Rio Rancho wins 15 and Waco wins 8. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($78,978 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rio Rancho, NM and Waco, TX are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.