Rio Rancho receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Rio Rancho
Albuquerque
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 16%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs47 · Bottom 44%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 44%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs81 · Top 50%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
65 · Top 41%
vs53 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Rio Rancho | Albuquerque | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 108,515 | 562,218 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,596 | $68,317 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,278 | $40,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,050/sq mi | 3,002/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $310,200 | $291,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,514 | $1,145 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 61.8% | 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 | 34.0% | 39.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 15.5% | 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 | 18 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.5 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 149 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.29 | 12.60 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 91.6% | 89.3% | 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
Rio Rancho
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Albuquerque
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Rio Rancho
68
Your Score
63
Area Score
Albuquerque
65
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Rio Rancho, NM · Albuquerque, NM · How this is calculated: methodology