Rio Rancho NM vs Southaven MS — 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%

Southaven, MS

Mississippi · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$276,140
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Rio Rancho
47,823
Southaven
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Rio Rancho
N/A
Southaven
N/A
Median Age
Rio Rancho
36.8
Southaven
N/A
Foreign Born
Rio Rancho
11.6%
Southaven
N/A
White
Rio Rancho
62.2%
Southaven
N/A
Black
Rio Rancho
1.8%
Southaven
N/A
Asian
Rio Rancho
1.6%
Southaven
N/A
Hispanic
Rio Rancho
61.1%
Southaven
N/A
Spanish at Home
Rio Rancho
N/A
Southaven
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Rio Rancho
$50,294
Southaven
N/A
Per Capita Income
Rio Rancho
$28,418
Southaven
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Rio Rancho
$53,141
Rio Rancho +
Southaven
$46,995
Unemployment Rate
Rio Rancho
5.9%
Southaven
N/A
Poverty Rate
Rio Rancho
24.2%
Southaven
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Rio Rancho
19.6%
Southaven
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Rio Rancho
$362,476
Southaven
$276,140
Southaven +
Homeownership Rate
Rio Rancho
66.4%
Southaven
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rio Rancho
834
Southaven
247
Southaven +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rio Rancho
3177
Southaven
1808
Southaven +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
31.9%
Rio Rancho +
Southaven
37.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
10.6%
Rio Rancho +
Southaven
12.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Rio Rancho
15.4%
Rio Rancho +
Southaven
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
11.5%
Southaven
10.0%
Southaven +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
15.0%
Southaven
14.9%
Southaven +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Rio Rancho
10.5%
Rio Rancho +
Southaven
14.2%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rio Rancho
55.7°F
Southaven
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rio Rancho
12.3 in
Southaven
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Rio Rancho
19.1 min
Southaven
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Southaven offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $276,140. On public safety, Southaven is safer with a violent crime rate of 247 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%.

Compare More Cities

About Rio Rancho & Southaven