Rio Rancho, NM — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 47,823 · New Mexico · Updated May 2026
Population
47,823
Median Income
$50,294
Home Price
$362,476
Unemployment
5.9%
Poverty Rate
24.2%
Bachelor's+
19.6%
Full Demographics — Rio Rancho, NM
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,823 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 11.6% | 13.8% | |
| White | 62.2% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 1.8% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 1.6% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 61.1% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $50,294 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $28,418 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $53,141 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 24.2% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 19.6% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $362,476 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.4% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 834 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3177 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.9% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.4% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.5% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.0% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.5% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.7°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 12.3 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 6.1 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.1 min | 27.0 min |
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About Rio Rancho, NM
Rio Rancho is a city in New Mexico, United States. With a population of 47,823, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Rio Rancho shows stronger commute time (19 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 19.6% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.