Rio Rancho, NM Reviews


21 Reviews



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Rio Rancho, NM is a vibrant and growing city located just outside of Albuquerque. With its close proximity to the city, it's easy to experience all that it has to offer. It is known for its excellent schools, great parks and trails, and its local shops and restaurants. With so much to do in the area, there are plenty of activities for everyone including hiking, biking, fishing and camping. Visitors can also explore the nearby historic sites such as Coronado State Monument or take a tour of the Petroglyph National Monument.
The reviews of Rio Rancho are overwhelmingly positive with many people praising the friendly atmosphere, beautiful views and plenty of things to do. Those who have visited often remark on how safe they felt while exploring around town and on how clean everything was kept. In addition to its natural beauty, visitors also comment on the variety of shops and restaurants available as well as the affordable housing in the area which makes it an attractive place for families looking to relocate or purchase a second home. All in all, Rio Rancho is an amazing destination full of adventure that you won't want to miss!

 based on 21 Reviews
Get to know Rio Rancho with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho- not that great! - 8/1/2022
I have lived in the area for the past three years with my husband. Although vastly better than Albuquerque, this is not a safe area. We have had overt and petty crime on our property and no longer feel safe in our home. There are few restaurant and fewer entertainment options. The views are great, but the wind is greater. NM is NOT the state for us. Read More

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As with everything, there are pros and cons - 3/4/2022
The pros:
-Fairly good year-round weather. Sunny days outnumber cloudy days, there are days when the temps fall below freezing and the sun will still be shining. It's deceiving...
-The school district is in the top 3 of the state. The main competitors are Santa Fe and Los Alamos.
-There's still a smaller town feel.
-There's a lot to do, Albuquerque is a short drive away.
-Once you try chile, you'll never go back.
-If you want to go into the medical field, UNM is the place to go for your education.
-Almost everything in town is in the same 2 areas, so shopping is simpler.

Cons:
-There is a lot of car theft. Expect your car insurance to increase, and God help you if you have out-of-state plates.
-RRPD is good, they respond to calls quickly. Don't expect the same from APD. On the other hand, watch your speed in RR, they love to stop speeders.
-A lot of people can barely drive when it's dry, much less when it's wet. Read More

Love it - 1/22/2020
Affordable housing, low crime (compared to Albuquerque), awesome weather with all 4 seasons, beautiful environment and some pretty awesome people. I love Rio Rancho, growing up in Albuquerque I always just thought of Rio as a boring little bedroom community but it’s honestly the place to be. It’s growing a lot, so there’s lot of new houses being put up, streets being widened, businesses and offices being built, etc. Lots of work here, blue collar or white collar.
The weather is pretty awesome, the summers are kinda hot but no where as bad as Vegas or Phoenix and it’s not humid like Texas or anywhere else out east. The fall is beautiful, winter is short and not too bad, spring is beautiful.
The people are honestly pretty great too, it’s a very politically diverse city; meaning that there’s lots of republicans, democrats and everything in between or outside. No matter what you believe, you’ll fit right in. If you’re thinking of moving to NM, I’d recommend Rio Rancho for Read More


Love it here - 2/25/2015
Rio Rancho has been great to my family. Cost of living is low, crime is low, good schools, food is great and the weather is unparalleled. If you enjoy the desert landscape, you will love it here. Fantastic view of the Sandias and Albuquerque is an easy commute. We love Read More

No comment - 3/15/2012
No Read More

Get me out of here!! - 8/18/2010
I've written 2 reviews, one shortly after we moved here and another after almost 3 years in RR, NM. Well, now going on to 5 years and HATE IT! People are rude, overly sensitive to what you say but don't have a problem letting you know what they think, education sucks - NM is in the bottom 7 in the country. Mountains are pretty but certainly not worth living in this vast desert wasteland. It is so windy in the spring, if you like open windows, forget it...or plan to dust constantly! Give me some green grass and tall trees - how's George Strait say it? "I'll be somewhere down in Texas if you're lookin' for me" Cannot wait to leave this little piece of hell! They aren't kidding when you hear "It's not the Land of Enchantment, it's the Land of Read More

Compare round rock, TX with Rio Rancho, NM - 6/23/2010
Compare round rock, TX with Rio Rancho, Read More

Land of Enchantment - 6/17/2010
This is a suburb of Albuquerque and as such if you want theatre, good restaurants and special services you must drive. However it isn't as crime ridden and the lots can be bigger and area quieter. Access to the mountains is wonderful and also the airport. The traffic, while it is bad for the people who have lived here, is no where near most major metropolitan areas on the East Coast. What trumps anything negative (except the questionable public school situation) is the weather.  Read More

Depends on what you are looking for - 2/7/2010
I have lived in Albuquerque several years, and now live in Rio Rancho. I have also lived in other parts of NM and the US. I think Rio Rancho rates as one of the best places to live in the US, and I believe for the most part it deserves that reputation. Most of the crime stays in Albuquerque. If you intend to work in Albuquerque, crossing the bridges over the Rio Grande can be a bit of a problem. It has one of the highest Lesbian indices in the nation. It is a wonderful place for Lesbians as the cost of living is low compared to other places in the country where they congregate. There is a large lesbian community in Santa Fe, and that is a close city to Rio Rancho. The drug dealers and meth labs seem to be prospering as well. Since these activities aren't particularly labeled when you visit a neighborhood, I thought it would be worthwhile to mention their presence. There are two types of Hispanics here. The so called native Hispanics, and they for the most part control the Read More

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