Community Overview

For additional information or questions, please contact the City Manager's Office, (505) 891-5002.

Rio Rancho is the 3rd largest city in New Mexico one of the fastest growing communities in the region. 

Rio Rancho has been nationally recognized as a best place to live.

New and Forthcoming Development

Click here for an interactive map New and Forthcoming Development New and Forthcoming Development New and Forthcoming Development 

Accolades

• Rio Rancho was recognized as a 2026 top place to retire in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report.
• Rio Rancho was named in the Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Southwest by Livability in 2024.
• Fortune.com named Rio Rancho one of the 50 Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S. in 2024.
• Motley's Fool ranked Rio Rancho #2 on their list of The 10 Most Affordable Cities with High Salaries and Low Cost of Living in the West in 2024. 
• Rio Rancho was named in the  Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. by Livability in 2024.
• In 2023, Rio Rancho was named by Livability.com as one of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.
• In 2020, Rio Rancho was named one of the 50 Best Places to Live in America by Money Magazine.
• In 2019, Rio Rancho was recognized by 24/7 Wall Street as one of America's 50 Best Cities to Live.
• In 2018, Rio Rancho was named the 30th Best Place to Live in America, out of over 580 qualified places, by MONEY’S 2018 Best Places to Live in America. 
• In 2017, Rio Rancho was named the Best Place to Live in New Mexico by MONEY's Best Places to Live in Every State. 
• The community has been recognized by Family Circle Magazine as one of the 10 best towns for families in 2013.
• Money Magazine ranked the city as one of the 100 best places to live in America in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2012. 
• In April 2008, Fortune Small Business Magazine ranked Rio Rancho as the 83rd best place to live and launch a business in the United States. 
• In November of 2008, BusinessWeek Magazine named Rio Rancho as New Mexico's best place to raise kids in 2009. Rio Rancho received this same honor from the magazine for 2010.

Census Bureau Population

The following table contains population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Yearly population estimate information from the Census Bureau is released each July and lags one year behind the actual calendar year.