Anaheim CA vs Rio Rancho NM — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Anaheim, CA

California · Population: 344,553

  • Median HH Income$90,583
  • Median Home Price$952,227
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+28.7%

Rio Rancho, NM

New Mexico · Population: 47,823

  • Median HH Income$50,294
  • Median Home Price$362,476
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+19.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Anaheim
344,553
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
47,823
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Anaheim
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A
Median Age
Anaheim
35.9
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
36.8
Foreign Born
Anaheim
35.2%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
11.6%
White
Anaheim
41.2%
Rio Rancho
62.2%
Rio Rancho +
Black
Anaheim
2.5%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
1.8%
Asian
Anaheim
18.6%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
1.6%
Hispanic
Anaheim
52.5%
Rio Rancho
61.1%
Rio Rancho +
Spanish at Home
Anaheim
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Anaheim
$90,583
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
$50,294
Per Capita Income
Anaheim
$36,541
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
$28,418
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Anaheim
$77,230
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
$53,141
Unemployment Rate
Anaheim
5.5%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
5.9%
Poverty Rate
Anaheim
12.5%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
24.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Anaheim
28.7%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
19.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Anaheim
$952,227
Rio Rancho
$362,476
Rio Rancho +
Homeownership Rate
Anaheim
45.9%
Rio Rancho
66.4%
Rio Rancho +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
503
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
834
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
2388
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
3177

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
26.8%
Anaheim +
Rio Rancho
31.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
12.2%
Rio Rancho
10.6%
Rio Rancho +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Anaheim
18.0%
Rio Rancho
15.4%
Rio Rancho +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
14.7%
Rio Rancho
11.5%
Rio Rancho +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
15.4%
Rio Rancho
15.0%
Rio Rancho +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
11.0%
Rio Rancho
10.5%
Rio Rancho +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
67.1°F
Rio Rancho
55.7°F
Rio Rancho +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
13.4 in
Rio Rancho
12.3 in
Rio Rancho +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Anaheim
7.9 µg/m³
Rio Rancho
6.1 µg/m³
Rio Rancho +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Anaheim
75.0%
Rio Rancho
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Anaheim
30.6 min
Rio Rancho
19.1 min
Rio Rancho +

Which City is Right for You?

Anaheim leads in median household income at $90,583, while rio Rancho offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $362,476. On public safety, Anaheim is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 834 in Rio Rancho. Anaheim has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Rio Rancho has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Anaheim scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Anaheim & Rio Rancho