Brockton MA 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)

Brockton, MA

Massachusetts · Population: 105,080

  • Median HH Income$77,089
  • Median Home Price$506,468
  • Unemployment8.3%
  • Bachelor's+21.3%

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
Brockton
105,080
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
47,823
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Brockton
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A
Median Age
Brockton
36.5
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
36.8
Foreign Born
Brockton
32.9%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
11.6%
White
Brockton
29.2%
Rio Rancho
62.2%
Rio Rancho +
Black
Brockton
38.3%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
1.8%
Asian
Brockton
2.2%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
1.6%
Hispanic
Brockton
12.9%
Rio Rancho
61.1%
Rio Rancho +
Spanish at Home
Brockton
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Brockton
$77,089
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
$50,294
Per Capita Income
Brockton
$35,524
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
$28,418
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Brockton
$85,405
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
$53,141
Unemployment Rate
Brockton
8.3%
Rio Rancho
5.9%
Rio Rancho +
Poverty Rate
Brockton
13.9%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
24.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
Brockton
21.3%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
19.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Brockton
$506,468
Rio Rancho
$362,476
Rio Rancho +
Homeownership Rate
Brockton
57.0%
Rio Rancho
66.4%
Rio Rancho +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Brockton
326
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
834
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Brockton
1086
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
3177

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Brockton
35.9%
Rio Rancho
31.9%
Rio Rancho +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Brockton
13.4%
Rio Rancho
10.6%
Rio Rancho +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Brockton
21.4%
Rio Rancho
15.4%
Rio Rancho +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Brockton
8.4%
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
11.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Brockton
15.3%
Rio Rancho
15.0%
Rio Rancho +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Brockton
17.7%
Rio Rancho
10.5%
Rio Rancho +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Brockton
49.2°F
Brockton +
Rio Rancho
55.7°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Brockton
49.9 in
Rio Rancho
12.3 in
Rio Rancho +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Brockton
34.1 min
Rio Rancho
19.1 min
Rio Rancho +

Which City is Right for You?

Brockton leads in median household income at $77,089, while rio Rancho offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $362,476. On public safety, Brockton is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 834 in Rio Rancho. Rio Rancho has a lower unemployment rate at 5.9%, and Rio Rancho has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Rio Rancho scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Brockton & Rio Rancho