Rio Rancho gets top ranking on two more national lists

RIO RANCHO — As 2025 comes to a close, the city of Rio Rancho can tout itself as a nationally recognized community once more.

The city was ranked as the sixth-best place to retire in a U.S. News & World Report list of 250 cities. Rio Rancho also placed 10 out of 12 in the “Best Up-and-Coming U.S. Cities Perfectly Sized With Tons of Charm” list, compiled by Only In Your State, an online travel resource.

The city highlighted the U.S. News ranking on its website, while Jerry Schalow, president and CEO of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce, shared the Only In Your State accolade.

In an email, Schalow stated, in part, that the recent Rio Rancho rankings “validate what many (residents) already appreciate: that our city is not just a place on the map, but a home focused on community and promise for the future.”

Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said anytime his city is ranked high on a national list, it reflects that “we’re getting the job done and we’re a community that is very desirable.”

“I think these lists do have a very practical application,” Hull added.

According to its website, U.S. News formulated the rankings, in part, with the help of the news outlet’s internal resources, analytics software and a March 2025 public survey in which “3,500 people from across the country voted for the most important factor to consider when choosing where to retire.”

Hull has spoken to retirees who tell him Rio Rancho is not only a “great community,” but they feel safe and it’s “a great value for their dollar.”

He is aware of a local couple, Pat Jilek, 56, and his wife, who recently said they are selling their house due to the difficulty of finding a doctor.

“I don’t believe people are leaving Rio Rancho for health care; they’re leaving New Mexico for health care,” Hull said.

Only In Your State described Rio Rancho as one of the state’s “fastest-rising cities” due to “strong job growth in tech, health care and manufacturing” sectors. The city offers “affordable housing, wide-open neighborhoods, and stunning desert views without the congestion of nearby Albuquerque,” Only In Your State added.

Hull said the ranking was “another recognition that I’m very proud of,” adding even if his city was near the end of the list, “I’ll take that all day long.”

Hull said he would not “scoff” at the online travel resource’s characterization of Rio Rancho as an “up-and-coming” city that is “perfectly sized.”

“We’re still a very young city, and we’ve got a lot of opportunities for additional growth,” Hull said.