2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Rio Rancho, NM vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Rio Rancho?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 0.4 years older than in Rio Rancho.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Rio Rancho?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 390.8% more expensive than Rio Rancho housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Rio Rancho?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 11.2 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Rio Rancho.

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!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Rio Rancho, NMSanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$70,615  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$310,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time28.38  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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