Rio Rancho is a city in Sandoval County, New Mexico, home to about 108,515 people across 103 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 87124 and 87144, and parts of 87114 and 87121 are in Rio Rancho too.
Homes sold for a median of $219 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and all of them were seller’s markets.
Mostly Rio Rancho; also Rio Rancho Estates
Mostly Rio Rancho; also Rio Rancho Estates
Mostly Albuquerque; part is in Rio Rancho
Mostly Albuquerque; part is in Rio Rancho
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Rio Rancho. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Rio Rancho’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Rio Rancho well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)17 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Albuquerque, NM12 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Phoenix, AZ328 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Rio Rancho; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Rio Rancho had 104,046 residents in the 2020 census, up 101% since 2000.
It’s the 3rd largest of 494 towns in New Mexico by population.
Sandoval County grew from 8,579 residents in 1910 to 148,834 in 2020.
Sandoval County, 1910–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 96°F in summer, and winter lows average 24°F. About 9.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Rio Rancho #2, NM weather station (4 miles away).
27,552 jobs at 1,928 businesses in Sandoval County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
1,102 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Rio Rancho’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 89 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 88 |
| Dentists | 61 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 185 |
| Mental health providers | 562 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 82 |
| Optometrists | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 22 |
| Pharmacies | 20 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (71 nearby)
Grocery stores (13 nearby)
Pharmacies (11 nearby)
Libraries (3 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 6.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1961.
Colleges and universities
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Rio Rancho, Explore Academy - Rio Rancho, Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandia Vista ElementaryRio Rancho | Pre-K–5 | 713 | Public | 7.1 mi |
| Shining Stars PreschoolRio Rancho | Pre-K | 590 | Special Education | 3.0 mi |
| Cielo Azul ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 640 | Public | 3.6 mi |
| Colinas Del Norte ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 540 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| Enchanted Hills ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 673 | Public | 4.6 mi |
| Ernest Stapleton ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 798 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Explore Academy - Rio RanchoRio Rancho | K–7 | 430 | Charter | 5.3 mi |
| Joe Harris ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 574 | Public | 3.0 mi |
| Maggie Cordova Elementary SchoolRio Rancho | K–5 | 608 | Public | 2.2 mi |
| Martin King Jr. ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 569 | Public | 2.4 mi |
| Puesta Del Sol ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 539 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| Rio Rancho ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 486 | Public | 3.6 mi |
| Sandoval Academy of Bilingual EducationRio Rancho | K–8 | 222 | Charter | 8.3 mi |
| Vista Grande ElementaryRio Rancho | K–5 | 786 | Public | 7.3 mi |
| Eagle Ridge MiddleRio Rancho | 6–8 | 732 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Lincoln MiddleRio Rancho | 6–8 | 805 | Public | 1.3 mi |
| Mountain View MiddleRio Rancho | 6–8 | 931 | Public | 7.8 mi |
| Rio Rancho Cyber AcademyRio Rancho | 6–12 | 133 | Public | 3.4 mi |
| Rio Rancho Middle SchoolRio Rancho | 6–8 | 1,024 | Public | 3.0 mi |
| The Ask AcademyRio Rancho | 6–12 | 558 | Charter | 3.3 mi |
| Cleveland High SchoolRio Rancho | 9–12 | 2,596 | Public | 4.8 mi |
| Independence High SchoolRio Rancho | 9–12 | 156 | Alternative Education | 4.0 mi |
| Rio Rancho HighRio Rancho | 9–12 | 2,568 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leap International Montessori SchoolRio Rancho | Pre-K–4 | 7 | Nonsectarian | 3.4 mi |
| St Thomas Aquinas SchoolRio Rancho | Pre-K–8 | 295 | Roman Catholic | 1.4 mi |
| Gospel Light Baptist AcademyRio Rancho | K–12 | 221 | Baptist | 1.7 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Albuquerque, North Valley, Paradise Hills, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Rio Rancho Estates and Pajarito Mesa.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.