87120 and 87144 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
87120
87144
Opportunity: 87144 is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 21%
vs40 · Bottom 21%
Growth: 87144 is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
44 · Bottom 40%
vs56 · Top 39%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience: 87120 is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs63 · Top 44%
Housing affordability: 87120 is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
91 · Top 31%
vs88 · Top 37%
Access: 87120 is the more favorable of the two.
Access
96 · Top 34%
vs91 · Bottom 45%
Economic stability: 87144 is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
60 · Top 49%
vs68 · Top 34%
Measured values
| Metric | 87120 | 87144 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,097 | 51,837 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,907 | $94,550 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,153 | $40,885 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,147/sq mi | 516/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $300,600 | $321,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,429 | $1,688 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.1% | 86.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.5% | -3.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 33.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 7.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,524 | 814 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 7.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 17.7% | -40.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 8.8" | 8.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 35.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.79 | 18.29 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 95.9% | 91.6% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
87120
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
87144
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Full profiles: 87120 — Albuquerque, NM · 87144 — Rio Rancho, NM · How this is calculated: methodology