87144 and 87120 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
87144
87120
Opportunity
40 · Bottom 21%
vs40 · Bottom 21%
Growth
56 · Top 39%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 44%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 37%
vs91 · Top 30%
Access
91 · Bottom 45%
vs96 · Top 34%
Economic stability
68 · Top 34%
vs60 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | 87144 | 87120 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,837 | 66,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $94,550 | $86,907 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,885 | $43,153 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 516/sq mi | 1,147/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $321,900 | $300,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,688 | $1,429 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 86.2% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.5% | -3.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 39.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 11.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 814 | 1,524 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 2.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -40.3% | 17.7% | 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 | 21 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.1 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.29 | 12.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 91.6% | 95.9% | 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
87144
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
87120
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 87144 — Rio Rancho, NM · 87120 — Albuquerque, NM · How this is calculated: methodology