The 10 Best Small Towns In New Mexico For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in New Mexico are the best of the best.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 5, 2022

You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in New Mexico, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Land of Enchantment and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in New Mexico based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.

We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in New Mexico ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in New Mexico for 2022.

The 10 Best Small Towns To Live In New Mexico For 2022

  1. Sandia Heights
  2. La Huerta
  3. Talpa
  4. Carnuel
  5. San Ysidro
  6. Sandia Knolls
  7. Mesilla
  8. Tome
  9. Bosque Farms
  10. High Rolls

What's the best small town in New Mexico? Sandia Heights is the best small town in New Mexico based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Sandia Heights, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Land of Enchantment check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In New Mexico For 2022

1. Sandia Heights

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,111
Median Income: $114,464 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $490,500 (2nd Best)
More on Sandia Heights: Data | Homes For Sale

2. La Huerta

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,489
Median Income: $100,519 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $308,500 (4th Best)
More on La Huerta: Data | Homes For Sale

3. Talpa

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,245
Median Income: $49,161 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $302,000 (5th Best)
More on Talpa:  | Homes For Sale

4. Carnuel

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,037
Median Income: $63,462 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $251,000 (10th Best)
More on Carnuel: Data | Homes For Sale

5. San Ysidro

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,527
Median Income: $115,016 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $292,400 (6th Best)
More on San Ysidro: Data | Homes For Sale

6. Sandia Knolls

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,516
Median Income: $86,058 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $253,200 (9th Best)
More on Sandia Knolls: Data | Homes For Sale

7. Mesilla

Mesilla, NM

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 2,274
Median Income: $51,167 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $231,400 (12th Best)
More on Mesilla: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

8. Tome

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,585
Median Income: $66,597 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $279,800 (7th Best)
More on Tome: Data | Homes For Sale

9. Bosque Farms

Bosque Farms, NM

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 3,833
Median Income: $59,250 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $223,500 (13th Best)
More on Bosque Farms: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

10. High Rolls

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,370
Median Income: $57,407 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $219,900 (15th Best)
More on High Rolls:  | Homes For Sale

11. Elephant Butte

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,552
Median Income: $48,750 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $142,900 (35th Best)
More on Elephant Butte: Data | Homes For Sale

12. Paradise Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,918
Median Income: $52,618 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $197,400 (19th Best)
More on Paradise Hills: Data | Homes For Sale

13. Los Chaves

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,965
Median Income: $68,971 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $165,400 (27th Best)
More on Los Chaves: Data | Homes For Sale

14. Bayard

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,415
Median Income: $52,798 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $88,800 (56th Best)
More on Bayard: Data | Homes For Sale

15. Las Maravillas

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,960
Median Income: $49,911 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $140,200 (36th Best)
More on Las Maravillas: Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In New Mexico

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)
Best States In America

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 82 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 82, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in New Mexico. Top of that list -- Sandia Heights. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in New Mexico.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in New Mexico are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in New Mexico:

  1. Thoreau
  2. Twin Lakes
  3. Monterey Park

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In New Mexico

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Sandia Heights, NM 3,111 $114,464.0 $490,500.0
2 La Huerta, NM 1,489 $100,519.0 $308,500.0
3 Talpa, NM 1,245 $49,161.0 $302,000.0
4 Carnuel, NM 1,037 $63,462.0 $251,000.0
5 San Ysidro, NM 2,527 $115,016.0 $292,400.0
6 Sandia Knolls, NM 1,516 $86,058.0 $253,200.0
7 Mesilla, NM 2,274 $51,167.0 $231,400.0
8 Tome, NM 1,585 $66,597.0 $279,800.0
9 Bosque Farms, NM 3,833 $59,250.0 $223,500.0
10 High Rolls, NM 1,370 $57,407.0 $219,900.0
11 Elephant Butte, NM 1,552 $48,750.0 $142,900.0
12 Paradise Hills, NM 4,918 $52,618.0 $197,400.0
13 Los Chaves, NM 4,965 $68,971.0 $165,400.0
14 Bayard, NM 2,415 $52,798.0 $88,800.0
15 Las Maravillas, NM 1,960 $49,911.0 $140,200.0
16 La Mesilla, NM 2,656 $56,806.0 $217,300.0
17 El Cerro, NM 3,138 $92,623.0 $196,200.0
18 Fairacres, NM 1,213 $88,824.0 $217,300.0
19 Eunice, NM 3,026 $69,000.0 $109,900.0
20 El Rancho, NM 1,406 $51,607.0 $185,000.0
21 Spencerville, NM 1,592 $56,500.0 $151,600.0
22 Peralta, NM 3,599 $54,375.0 $195,900.0
23 Ranchos De Taos, NM 2,086 $43,365.0 $311,700.0
24 La Puebla, NM 1,061 $61,985.0 $163,200.0
25 Dexter, NM 1,061 $51,736.0 $83,300.0
26 La Cienega, NM 3,728 $65,549.0 $261,300.0
27 Questa, NM 1,961 $40,865.0 $137,500.0
28 Ohkay Owingeh, NM 1,220 $51,875.0 $2,000,001.0
29 Hurley, NM 1,393 $42,159.0 $80,900.0
30 Waterflow, NM 1,552 $64,350.0 $157,500.0
31 Chimayo, NM 2,779 $61,758.0 $172,800.0
32 El Valle De Arroyo Seco, NM 1,807 $55,815.0 $174,000.0
33 Capitan, NM 1,356 $43,310.0 $115,300.0
34 Loving, NM 1,174 $41,488.0 $113,900.0
35 Arenas Valley, NM 1,224 $52,768.0 $147,300.0
36 Pojoaque, NM 2,094 $54,211.0 $81,700.0
37 San Pablo, NM 1,022 $48,365.0 $248,100.0
38 Texico, NM 1,053 $50,347.0 $86,100.0
39 Boles Acres, NM 2,311 $54,183.0 $160,800.0
40 Santa Clara, NM 1,708 $32,794.0 $84,500.0
41 West Hammond, NM 2,738 $66,339.0 $163,900.0
42 Tularosa, NM 2,983 $44,286.0 $116,200.0
43 Radium Springs, NM 1,487 $47,047.0 $91,400.0
44 Atoka, NM 1,275 $65,286.0 $120,900.0
45 Santa Rosa, NM 3,007 $32,969.0 $91,200.0
46 Flora Vista, NM 2,187 $36,691.0 $167,500.0
47 Jarales, NM 2,207 $45,809.0 $93,700.0
48 Tucumcari, NM 4,872 $31,054.0 $47,100.0
49 Jal, NM 1,856 $55,000.0 $78,200.0
50 Hatch, NM 1,718 $40,885.0 $113,400.0
51 Jemez Pueblo, NM 1,976 $45,227.0 $107,600.0
52 Pecos, NM 1,194 $35,771.0 $108,800.0
53 San Rafael, NM 1,757 $68,923.0 $109,100.0
54 Nambe, NM 1,970 $35,481.0 $211,500.0
55 Fort Sumner, NM 1,301 $32,375.0 $89,300.0
56 Milan, NM 3,665 $39,066.0 $47,800.0
57 Clayton, NM 3,079 $30,040.0 $77,800.0
58 Mesita, NM 1,169 $44,821.0 $83,700.0
59 Lordsburg, NM 2,256 $34,479.0 $70,400.0
60 Dulce, NM 2,584 $47,045.0 $65,000.0
61 La Plata, NM 2,078 $50,000.0 $156,100.0
62 Vado, NM 3,189 $38,720.0 $111,000.0
63 Keeler Farm, NM 1,794 $47,738.0 $90,600.0
64 Taos Pueblo, NM 1,443 $33,056.0 $222,600.0
65 Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM 2,281 $36,932.0 $123,000.0
66 Black Rock, NM 1,298 $38,516.0 $65,600.0
67 Skyline-Ganipa, NM 1,173 $56,708.0 $81,900.0
68 Crownpoint, NM 3,018 $41,328.0 $69,700.0
69 Berino, NM 1,704 $26,875.0 $72,400.0
70 Estancia, NM 1,635 $33,636.0 $85,300.0
71 Church Rock, NM 1,354 $37,917.0 $33,400.0
72 La Luz, NM 1,799 $31,169.0 $74,700.0
73 Meadow Lake, NM 4,266 $37,753.0 $70,500.0
74 Moriarty, NM 1,835 $27,365.0 $107,100.0
75 San Felipe Pueblo, NM 1,767 $36,406.0 $183,300.0
76 Columbus, NM 1,044 $21,543.0 $65,000.0
77 El Cerro Mission, NM 4,808 $32,144.0 $69,700.0
78 Navajo, NM 1,818 $25,323.0 $45,000.0
79 Upper Fruitland, NM 1,601 $31,638.0 $78,800.0
80 Monterey Park, NM 1,097 $34,460.0 $106,000.0
81 Twin Lakes, NM 1,119 $22,857.0 $54,300.0
82 Thoreau, NM 2,068 $18,988.0 $55,700.0
Download The Entire New Mexico Ranking Data

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in New Mexico.
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns