Rio Rancho

Background Image

Rio Rancho, NM

Area Guide

Share Guide

Enjoy breathtaking landscapes in a family-friendly community

Good Schools Family-Friendly Parks Suburb Culture Desert Affordable

An affordable location with a variety of rental opportunities, Rio Rancho is a blend of suburb and open desert. Just 16 miles north of Albuquerque, Rio Ranch resides in the heart of New Mexico. Kid-friendly amenities are abundant in town like A Park Above. This accessible park is the best place for children in the area with large playgrounds, splash pad, and community events.

Rio Rancho Public Schools offers Stapleton Elementary, Rio Ranch Middle, Rio Ranch High School and more. Rio Rancho’s open desert provides breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures year-round. Enjoy easy access to major highways and delicious restaurants like Filiberto’s Mexican Food, Cazuela’s Mexican Grill and Brewery, and Turtle Mountain Brewing Company.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Rio Rancho, NM is $1,107 for a studio, $1,400 for one bedroom, $1,725 for two bedrooms, and $2,040 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Rio Rancho has increased by 3.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,400/month
677 Sq Ft
House
$2,192/month
1,771 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Rio Rancho, NM

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Rio Rancho, NM is 2.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Rio Rancho is 3.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,107 - $2,040. You can expect to pay 4.2% less for groceries, 6.2% less for utilities, and 7.1% less for transportation.

Compare Cities

$

Transportation

29

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

1

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

36

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Sandia Vista Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

690 Students

9
out of 10

Vista Grande Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

768 Students

8
out of 10

Enchanted Hills Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

723 Students

8
out of 10

Martin King Jr Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

628 Students

7
out of 10

Colinas Del Norte Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

584 Students

7
out of 10

Rio Rancho Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,143 Students

9
out of 10

Mountain View Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

937 Students

9
out of 10

Rio Rancho Cyber Academy

Public

Grades 6-12

205 Students

9
out of 10

Lincoln Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

823 Students

6
out of 10

Eagle Ridge Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

823 Students

6
out of 10

Rio Rancho Cyber Academy

Public

Grades 6-12

205 Students

9
out of 10

V Sue Cleveland High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,631 Students

8
out of 10

Rio Rancho High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,573 Students

8
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Piedras Marcadas Canyon
  • Open Space Visitor Center
  • Albuquerque Balloon Museum
  • Balloon Fiesta Park
  • Coronado State Monument

Military Bases

Airports

  • Albuquerque International Sunport

Top Apartments in Rio Rancho

Houses for Rent in Rio Rancho

Property Management Companies in Rio Rancho, NM

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.