2025 Compare Cities Education:
Rio Rancho, NM vs Thornton, CO

Change Cities
Highlights
- Thornton spends 6.9% more per student than Rio Rancho.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 23.2% higher in Thornton than in Rio Rancho. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Thornton had 6.7% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Rio Rancho
 Rio Rancho, NMThornton, COUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,840$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$10,727  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,182$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.16  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock10044573
 Students per Counselor705  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock4.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock88.0%88.9%
 Some College Educ.26.6%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.4%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.31.4%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.8%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.5%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.0%1.5%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Rio Rancho

Reviews for Thornton    5 Reviews

Good place. Very suburbany (similar to the Springs). The houses are very small and old and yet still very expensive (albeit cheaper than southern Denver). Actually lots  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

I like Denver metro, but some cities aren’t too great. Thornton being one of them. Moved here because of highway access, and convenience to DIA for business travel. Am  More

   |    Reply

Over 10 years ago

The quality of life here in not good. The traffic is bad all the time. To try to get to the mountains takes forever! Also most lakes along the front range you can't even  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Thornton


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.