Cincinnati OH 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)

Cincinnati, OH

Ohio · Population: 309,595

  • Median HH Income$51,707
  • Median Home Price$252,784
  • Unemployment6.8%
  • Bachelor's+41.3%

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
Cincinnati
309,595
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
47,823
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cincinnati
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A
Median Age
Cincinnati
33.0
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
36.8
Foreign Born
Cincinnati
7.1%
Rio Rancho
11.6%
Rio Rancho +
White
Cincinnati
49.4%
Rio Rancho
62.2%
Rio Rancho +
Black
Cincinnati
38.7%
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
1.8%
Asian
Cincinnati
2.8%
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
1.6%
Hispanic
Cincinnati
5.4%
Rio Rancho
61.1%
Rio Rancho +
Spanish at Home
Cincinnati
N/A
Rio Rancho
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cincinnati
$51,707
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
$50,294
Per Capita Income
Cincinnati
$38,878
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
$28,418
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cincinnati
$58,300
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
$53,141
Unemployment Rate
Cincinnati
6.8%
Rio Rancho
5.9%
Rio Rancho +
Poverty Rate
Cincinnati
24.5%
Rio Rancho
24.2%
Rio Rancho +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cincinnati
41.3%
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
19.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cincinnati
$252,784
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
$362,476
Homeownership Rate
Cincinnati
38.9%
Rio Rancho
66.4%
Rio Rancho +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
319
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
834
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
1866
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
3177

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
38.3%
Rio Rancho
31.9%
Rio Rancho +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
14.1%
Rio Rancho
10.6%
Rio Rancho +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cincinnati
19.8%
Rio Rancho
15.4%
Rio Rancho +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
9.6%
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
11.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
17.0%
Rio Rancho
15.0%
Rio Rancho +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cincinnati
16.1%
Rio Rancho
10.5%
Rio Rancho +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
54.2°F
Cincinnati +
Rio Rancho
55.7°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cincinnati
47.7 in
Rio Rancho
12.3 in
Rio Rancho +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cincinnati
10.3 µg/m³
Rio Rancho
6.1 µg/m³
Rio Rancho +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cincinnati
55.0%
Rio Rancho
75.0%
Rio Rancho +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cincinnati
24.8 min
Rio Rancho
19.1 min
Rio Rancho +

Which City is Right for You?

Cincinnati leads in median household income at $51,707, while cincinnati offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $252,784. On public safety, Cincinnati is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 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 Cincinnati & Rio Rancho