Rio Rancho NM vs San Marcos TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Rio Rancho, NM
New Mexico · Population: 47,823
- Median HH Income$50,294
- Median Home Price$362,476
- Unemployment5.9%
- Bachelor's+19.6%
San Marcos, TX
Texas · Population: 99,507
- Median HH Income$64,146
- Median Home Price$313,452
- Unemployment3.2%
- Bachelor's+24.9%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Rio Rancho
47,823
San Marcos
99,507
San Marcos +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Rio Rancho
N/A
San Marcos
N/A
Median Age
Rio Rancho
36.8
San Marcos
35.2
San Marcos +
Foreign Born
Rio Rancho
11.6%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
5.8%
White
Rio Rancho
62.2%
San Marcos
66.6%
San Marcos +
Black
Rio Rancho
1.8%
San Marcos
4.3%
San Marcos +
Asian
Rio Rancho
1.6%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
1.4%
Hispanic
Rio Rancho
61.1%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
42.2%
Spanish at Home
Rio Rancho
N/A
San Marcos
N/A
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,823 | 99,507 | San Marcos + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 35.2 | San Marcos + |
| Foreign Born | 11.6% | 5.8% | Rio Rancho + |
| White | 62.2% | 66.6% | San Marcos + |
| Black | 1.8% | 4.3% | San Marcos + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 1.4% | Rio Rancho + |
| Hispanic | 61.1% | 42.2% | Rio Rancho + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Rio Rancho
$50,294
San Marcos
$64,146
San Marcos +
Per Capita Income
Rio Rancho
$28,418
San Marcos
$33,835
San Marcos +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Rio Rancho
$53,141
San Marcos
$63,758
San Marcos +
Unemployment Rate
Rio Rancho
5.9%
San Marcos
3.2%
San Marcos +
Poverty Rate
Rio Rancho
24.2%
San Marcos
11.9%
San Marcos +
Bachelor's Degree+
Rio Rancho
19.6%
San Marcos
24.9%
San Marcos +
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $50,294 | $64,146 | San Marcos + |
| Per Capita Income | $28,418 | $33,835 | San Marcos + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $53,141 | $63,758 | San Marcos + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 3.2% | San Marcos + |
| Poverty Rate | 24.2% | 11.9% | San Marcos + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 19.6% | 24.9% | San Marcos + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Rio Rancho
$362,476
San Marcos
$313,452
San Marcos +
Homeownership Rate
Rio Rancho
66.4%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
63.3%
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $362,476 | $313,452 | San Marcos + |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.4% | 63.3% | Rio Rancho + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rio Rancho
834
San Marcos
442
San Marcos +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rio Rancho
3177
San Marcos
2339
San Marcos +
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 834 | 442 | San Marcos + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3177 | 2339 | San Marcos + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
31.9%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
33.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
10.6%
San Marcos
7.9%
San Marcos +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Rio Rancho
15.4%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
22.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
11.5%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
19.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
15.0%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
10.5%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
11.0%
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.9% | 33.6% | Rio Rancho + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 7.9% | San Marcos + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.4% | 22.3% | Rio Rancho + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.5% | 19.7% | Rio Rancho + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.0% | 19.7% | Rio Rancho + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.5% | 11.0% | Rio Rancho + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rio Rancho
55.7°F
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
68.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rio Rancho
12.3 in
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
35.7 in
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.7°F | 68.5°F | Rio Rancho + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 12.3 in | 35.7 in | Rio Rancho + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Rio Rancho
6.1 µg/m³
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Rio Rancho
75.0%
Rio Rancho +
San Marcos
55.0%
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 6.1 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Rio Rancho + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Rio Rancho + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Rio Rancho
19.1 min
San Marcos
19.0 min
San Marcos +
| Metric | Rio Rancho, NM | San Marcos, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.1 min | 19.0 min | San Marcos + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Marcos leads in median household income at $64,146, while san Marcos offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,452. On public safety, San Marcos is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 834 in Rio Rancho. San Marcos has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, 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%.
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