2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Carlsbad, NM vs Rio Rancho, NM

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Highlights
Are people in Rio Rancho older or younger than people in Carlsbad?
- The Median Age in Rio Rancho is 3.6 years older than in Carlsbad.

Are housing costs cheaper in Rio Rancho or Carlsbad?
- Rio Rancho housing costs are 69.1% more expensive than Carlsbad housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Rio Rancho or Carlsbad?
- The average commute for residents of Rio Rancho is 10.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Carlsbad.

Things to do in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad is a city located in southeastern New Mexico that is known for its stunning landscape of caves, limestone cliffs and deserts dotted with cacti. It is home to Carlsbad Caverns National Park which contains over 100 limestone caves filled with unique formations that attract nature-lovers from across the globe. There are also several recreational activities available like rock climbing and ATV tours along with various art galleries featuring local history exhibits to explore!

Things to do in Rio Rancho?
Rio Rancho is a wonderful city located in New Mexico. It's known for its vast open spaces, exciting culture, and vibrant nightlife. Visitors can explore the local area by taking advantage of outdoor activities like visiting Old San Ysidro Church or playing a game of disc golf at the Riverwalk Disc Golf Park. Culture buffs can visit places like the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science and Petroglyph National Monument to gain insight into local culture. After exploring, sample delicious food from restaurants like Rio Rancho Pizzeria or Ichiban Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar. With so much to offer, Rio Rancho is an amazing place to visit for an unforgettable experience!

 Carlsbad, NMRio Rancho, NMUnited States
 Population  Unlock102,403329,725,481
 Median Income$70,745  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock38.738.4
 Avg. Home Price$183,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time18.25  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Carlsbad    16 Reviews

I've only been here for a few months, but I can quickly sum up this town as a rundown truck stop, perpetually buffeted by relentless wind, dirt, and hot air. The gas  More

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Over 3 years ago

We used to visit here every few years from Michigan just to see the Living Desert State Park. A very long way to drive to spend a a couple of days in this hauntingly  More

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Been here 9 years. Very difficult place. Price gouging, extremely expensive to live here. Crazy amounts of crime, cops do nothing. Very crowded, bad traffic and crazy  More

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Reviews for Rio Rancho    21 Reviews

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  More

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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  More

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Over 5 years ago

Affordable housing, low crime (compared to Albuquerque), awesome weather with all 4 seasons, beautiful environment and some pretty awesome people. I love Rio Rancho,  More

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