Rio Rancho Profile
Demographics
The City of Rio Rancho estimates its 2007 population to be 74,000-76,000. Rio Rancho is the fastest growing city in the State of New Mexico. The University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) reported Rio Rancho’s 2006 population at 72,646 (more than a 39 percent increase from its 2000 estimate of 52,242). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the City of Rio Rancho’s 2000 population was 51,765 (an increase of 59 percent from 1990 figures of 32,505). Rio Rancho’s 2006 U.S Census Bureau population estimate was also 72,646, meaning Rio Rancho grew by 40.3 percent and its population represented over 63 percent of Sandoval County’s population of 113,772. The following tables list: the historic growth of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County; the population growth rate of New Mexico's ten largest cities (listed in alphabetical order).
Historic Population Growth
Location |
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
2006 |
Rio Rancho |
N/A |
N/A |
9,985 |
32,551 |
51,765 |
72,646 |
Sandoval County |
14,201 |
17,492 |
34,400 |
63,319 |
89,908 |
113,772 |
% of Sandoval County |
N/A |
N/A |
29.03% |
51.41% |
57.58% |
63.85% |
Source: U.S Census Bureau
2000 – 2006 Population Growth Rate of NM's 10 Largest Cities
City |
2000 Population |
2006 Population |
% Change
2000 - 2006 |
Alamogordo |
35,582 |
36,069 |
1.4% |
Albuquerque |
448,607 |
504,949 |
12.6% |
Carlsbad |
25,625 |
25,410 |
-0.8% |
Clovis |
32,667 |
33,258 |
1.8% |
Farmington |
37,844 |
43,573 |
15.1% |
Hobbs |
28,657 |
29,292 |
2.2% |
Las Cruces |
74,267 |
86,268 |
16.2% |
Rio Rancho |
51,765 |
72,646 |
40.3% |
Roswell |
45,293 |
45,582 |
0.6% |
Santa Fe |
62,203 |
72,056 |
15.8% |
Source: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Rio Rancho Population Projections
The City of Rio Rancho estimates that its population will increase by 11,000 residents each year for the next five years. Should that rate be realized, the City’s population will reach almost 125,000 by the year 2010, a 69 percent increase. This increase is being fueled by the City’s affordable housing, quality school system, low crime rate and its strategic location in central New Mexico. The source for Rio Rancho’s population estimates is the 2005 - 2010 Land Use Assumptions for the City of Rio Rancho Impact Fee Study.
Rio Rancho Population Characteristics
Rio Rancho’s male to female ratio is 48.5 to 51.5 percent. The average age is just over 35 years old. Over 91 percent of the residents have earned at least a high school education. The median household income is $47,169. The following table shows the same variables for Sandoval County, the Albuquerque MSA, and State of New Mexico.
Demographic Breakdown
Location |
Male/Female % |
Median Age |
High School
Education |
Median Income |
Albuquerque MSA |
49 to 51 |
34.9 |
89.0% |
$39,088 |
New Mexico |
49.3 to 50.7 |
35.2 |
81.5% |
$40,629 |
Rio Rancho |
48 to 52 |
34.4 |
92.9% |
$56,914 |
Sandoval County |
48.7 to 51.3 |
35.6 |
89% |
$54,747 |
Source: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2006 ACS Estimates
Albuquerque MSA
The Albuquerque MSA is New Mexico's largest metropolitan statistical area. The MSA’s population exceeds 816,811 people and is comprised of Sandoval, Bernalillo, Valencia and Torrance counties. Rio Rancho lay within both Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. The MSA is the 61st largest in the US and grew at 10.5 percent from 2001 to 2006. The following table highlights the MSA population increase from 2001 to 2006.
MSA Population Estimates
2001 - 2006
County |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
Bernalillo |
561,881 |
572,195 |
581,663 |
592,538 |
603,562 |
615,099 |
Sandoval |
93,420 |
96,375 |
99,435 |
102,725 |
107,460 |
113,772 |
Torrance |
16,764 |
16,709 |
17,209 |
17,544 |
17,501 |
17,551 |
Valencia |
67,398 |
68,131 |
68,499 |
68,573 |
69,417 |
70,389 |
Totals |
739,463 |
753,410 |
766,806 |
781,380 |
797,940 |
816,811 |
(Page last updated 10/07) |
