About the Area of Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Centrally located, Rio Rancho offers major attractions in the Land of Enchantment within a day’s scenic drive, including Indian Pueblos, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and so much more.

Rio Rancho's high-desert climate provides breathtaking vistas, complete with blue skies for most of the year, and plenty of outdoor activities.

History of Rio Rancho
In the early part of the 1960s, a corporation known as AMREP purchased 55,000 acres of land on the outskirts of Albuquerque. This area was originally called Rio Rancho Estates. With a long-term vision, AMREP marketed the area to residents in the Midwest and eastern states in an attempt to draw retirees to this area of New Mexico. The first homes started to be built in 1962, with many of the first residents retirees with an average income. In 1966, the number of families that had moved to Rio Rancho was 100, and by 1977 the population had grown to 5,000.

In 1971, AMREP purchased an additional 35,000 acres, which were split up into plats. Rio Rancho Estates was now exceeding Albuquerque geographically in size, with 92,000 acres. By the early 80’s, Rio Rancho was incorporated and its population had reached 10,000. A new financing program, offering low interest home loans, changed Rio Rancho from a retirement community to a community attracting young families. Today, Rio Rancho offers a cultural diversity within its population of over 62,000.

Rio Rancho is one of America's fastest growing cities and center for technological advancement and wireless communication. Rio Rancho has job opportunities, anchored by Intel, shopping, and affordable housing. Whether a golfer, hiker, or stay-at-home enthusiast, Rio Rancho and the surrounding area provides an abundance of activities.

Rio Rancho city, New Mexico Demographics
Subject	Number	Percent
Total Population:	est. 62,000	100.0 %
Sex & Age
Male	25,106	48.5 %
Female	26,659	51.5 %
Under 5 years	3,861	7.5 %
5 to 9 years	4,265	8.2 %
10 to 14 years	4,457	8.6 %
15 to 19 years	3,791	7.3 %
20 to 24 years	2,369	4.6 %
25 to 34 years	7,075	13.7 %
35 to 44 years	9,500	18.4 %
45 to 54 years	6,765	13.1 %
55 to 59 years	2,074	4.0 %
60 to 64 years	1,550	3.0 %
65 to 74 years	2,937	5.7 %
75 to 84 years	2,357	4.6 %
85 years and over	764	1.5 %
Median age(years)	35.1	N/A
18 years and over	36,659	70.8 %
Male	17,356	33.5 %
Female	19,303	37.3 %
21 years and over	34,875	67.4 %
62 years and over	6,922	13.4 %
65 years and over	6,058	11.7 %
Male	2,512	4.9 %
Female	3,546	6.9 %
Race
One race	49,630	100.0 %
White	40,563	81.7 %
Black or African American	1,376	2.8 %
American Indian and Alaska Native	1,226	2.5 %
Asian	758	1.5 %
Asian indian	77	0.2 %
Chinese	107	0.2 %
Filipino	250	0.5 %
Japanese	85	0.2 %
Korean	82	0.2 %
Vietnamese	60	0.1 %
Other Asian	97	0.2 %
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	89	0.2 %
Native Hawaiian	39	0.1 %
Guamanian or Chamorro	28	0.1 %
Samoan	14	0.0 %
Other Pacific Islander	8	0.0 %
Some other race	5,618	11.3 %
Two or more races	2,135	4.3 %
Race alone or in combination with one or more other races:
White	42,424	85.5 %
Black or African American	1,776	3.6 %
American Indian and Alaska Native	1,781	3.6 %
Asian	1,111	2.2 %
Native Hawaiian and Other Islander	171	0.3 %
Some other race	6,798	13.7 %
Hispanic or Latino and race
Total Population	51,765	100.0 %
Hispanic or Latino(of any race)	14,329	27.7 %
Mexican	4,266	8.2 %
Puerto Rican	317	0.6 %
Cuban	51	0.1 %
Other Hispanic or Latino	9,695	18.7 %
Not Hispanic or Latino	37,436	72.3 %
White alone	33,176	64.1 %
Relationship
Total Population	51,765	100.0 %
In households	51,347	99.2 %
Householder	18,995	36.7 %
Spouse	11,283	21.8 %
Child	16,955	32.8 %
Own child under 18 years	14,089	27.2 %
Other relatives	2,005	3.9 %
Under 18 years	776	1.5 %
Nonrelatives	2,109	4.1 %
Unmarried partner	1,050	2.0 %
In group quarters	418	0.8 %
Instituntionalized population	257	0.5 %
Noninstitutionalized population	161	0.3 %
Households by Type
Total Households	18,995	100.0 %
Family households (families)	14,112	74.3 %
With own children under 18 years	7,651	40.3 %
Married-couple family	11,283	59.4 %
With own children under 18 years	5,871	30.9 %
Female householder, no husband present	1,962	10.3 %
With own children under 18 years	1,238	6.5 %
NonFamily households	4,883	25.7 %
Householder living alone	3,944	20.8 %
Householder 65 years and over	1,499	7.9 %
Households with individuals under 18 years	8,168	43.0 %
Households with individuals 65 years and over	4,113	21.7 %
Average Household size	2.7	N/A
Average family size	3.14	N/A
Housing Occupancy
Total housing units	20,209	100.0 %
Occupied housing units	18,995	94.0 %
Vacant housing units	1,214	6.0 %
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use	91	0.5 %
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent)	2.3	N/A
Rental vacancy rate (percent)	12.2	N/A
Housing Tenure
Occupied housing units	18,995	100.0 %
Owner-occupied housing units.	15,474	81.5 %
Renter-occupied housing units.	3,521	18.5 %
Average household size of owner-occupied units	2.75	N/A
Average household size of renter-occupied units	2.51	N/A