Jonesboro AR 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)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

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

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

47,823

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

36.8

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

11.6%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

62.2%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

1.8%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

1.6%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

61.1%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Population	N/A	47,823	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	36.8	-
Foreign Born	N/A	11.6%	-
White	N/A	62.2%	-
Black	N/A	1.8%	-
Asian	N/A	1.6%	-
Hispanic	N/A	61.1%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

$50,294

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

$28,418

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Jonesboro +

Rio Rancho

$53,141

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

5.9%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

24.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

19.6%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$50,294	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$28,418	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$53,141	Jonesboro +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	5.9%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	24.2%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	19.6%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Rio Rancho

$362,476

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

66.4%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$362,476	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	66.4%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Jonesboro +

Rio Rancho

834

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Jonesboro +

Rio Rancho

3177

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	834	Jonesboro +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	3177	Jonesboro +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Rio Rancho

31.9%

Rio Rancho +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Rio Rancho

10.6%

Rio Rancho +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Rio Rancho

15.4%

Rio Rancho +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Rio Rancho

11.5%

Rio Rancho +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Rio Rancho

15.0%

Rio Rancho +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Rio Rancho

10.5%

Rio Rancho +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	31.9%	Rio Rancho +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	10.6%	Rio Rancho +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	15.4%	Rio Rancho +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	11.5%	Rio Rancho +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.0%	Rio Rancho +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	10.5%	Rio Rancho +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Rio Rancho

55.7°F

Rio Rancho +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Rio Rancho

12.3 in

Rio Rancho +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	55.7°F	Rio Rancho +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	12.3 in	Rio Rancho +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Rio Rancho

6.1 µg/m³

Rio Rancho +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Rio Rancho

75.0%

Rio Rancho +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	6.1 µg/m³	Rio Rancho +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Rio Rancho +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Rio Rancho

19.1 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rio Rancho, NM	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	19.1 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Jonesboro is safer with a violent crime rate of 660 per 100,000 residents, compared to 834 in Rio Rancho. 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%.

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About Jonesboro & Rio Rancho

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