The 10 Best Places To Live In New Mexico For 2022

The 10 Best Places To Live In New Mexico For 2022

Welcome to Corrales, the best place to live in New Mexico for the second year running. Despite having the the big cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho as neighbors, Corrales has worked hard to retain its rural character. From the many wineries to the community Grower’s Market, agriculture still plays a big part in Corrales’s culture and economy. There are also many events peppered throughout the year and regular shows put on at the Old San Ysidro Church are a big hit with locals.

The first thing to know about your neighbors in Corrales is that they’re among the best-educated in the state; about 60% of residents have a college degree and 30% have a master’s degree or higher. Those fancy degrees come in handy when pay-day rolls around, because Corrales also has the best-paid populace in New Mexico, with a median household income of $84,398/year. Also, the poverty rate in Corrales is the lowest statewide at 4.9%. Smart, moneyed individuals rarely go in for crime, so it makes sense that Corrales is also the safest place in New Mexico, with a crime rate 80% below the national average. The catch? Housing is twice as expensive as the statewide average, with a typical home selling for $437,500 and rent going for $1,146/month.

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is an affluent suburb of Albuquerque. From organic farms to grower’s markets, agriculture remains the dominant theme in Los Ranchos. Antique shopping, ceramics, and wineries leave you with plenty to do and work to enhance the cultural tradition of Los Ranchos. No event garners more attention than the annual Lavender Festival, though.

Nearly 30% of Los Ranchos residents have a master’s degree or higher, so you’d better study up if you don’t want to hold your team back on pub quiz night. The unemployment rate in Los Ranchos is the 7th lowest statewide at 4.5% and the village has the highest rate of residents with health insurance in New Mexico. Homes are the 2nd most expensive in the state, but the median rent of $824/month is lower than the statewide median. In any case, you shouldn’t have much trouble paying the bills here, because Los Ranchos has the 5th highest median household income in New Mexico at $62,261/year.

Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s third-biggest city, also comes in as the 3rd best place to live in the Land of Enchantment. Rio Rancho has been surging economically in recent years; it’s home to an Intel facility that’s by far the area’s largest employer, as well as companies like Hewlett-Packard and Walmart. For families, A Park Above is a delightful spot that’s been named the best city park by several New Mexico publications. And while New Mexico is generally sparse on greenery, you wouldn’t know it if you walked or cycled down the Willow Creek Trail.

Rio Rancho’s population has grown by more than 15% since 2010. Crime has remained uncommon, though, and ranks as the 8th lowest in New Mexico. The poverty rate in Rio Rancho is the 2nd lowest statewide at 8.5%. Rio Rancho’s median rent of $1,157/month outstrips the statewide median by 33%. Expenses aren’t a big issue for Rio Rancho’s residents, though, because they enjoy the 4th highest median household income in the state at $66,733/year.

Situated at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the U.S. With about 300 sunny days each year and low humidity, residents have a tough time imagining living anywhere else. Known as The City Different, Santa Fe doesn’t care about conforming; only about being awesome. A thriving arts scene,
top-notch cuisine with an amalgam of influences, and too much history and culture to cover here all make Santa Fe a place of endless discovery.

On the statistical side of things, it’s important to note that Santa Fe is one of New Mexico’s most expensive cities, with a cost of living about 10% higher than the statewide average and housing about 50% higher. That hasn’t stopped people from coming in droves though, seeing as the city’s population has grown by nearly 25% since 2010. People are willing to pay big for good schools, safe streets, low poverty and unemployment, and the ability to drop in on George R.R. Martin to ask the ETA for his next Game of Thrones book.

Edgewood is a town of 6,113 situated a half-hour east of Albuquerque. An exceedingly popular bedroom community, Edgewood’s population has exploded by around 65% since 2010, making it New Mexico’s fastest-growing city. Folks love the vintage indoor Church Street Market, chock full of local and handmade treasures. Wildlife West Nature Park is a must-visit for animal-lovers who want to see the epic wildlife of the Southwest up close and personal.

As for the essentials, the unemployment, poverty, crime, and health insurance rates in Edgewood all rank in the top ten statewide. GreatSchools also gave Edgewood’s public schools an 8/10 score, so those with children can feel secure moving here. Increased demand drove up property values more than 10% in the last year, so don’t be put off by the high price tag on homes — it’s a sound investment.

New Mexico’s biggest and most densely populated city, Albuquerque, comes in as the state’s 6th best place to call home. Albuquerque is known for its cultural diversity, it’s thriving arts scene, and world-class cuisine.

Additionally, Albuquerque is the hot air ballooning capital of the world, but thrill seekers don’t have to stop there. They can also hit the slopes at Sandia Peak. More relaxed folks will enjoy the Albuquerque’s golf courses.

Albuquerque is a young city, with a median age of 37. 36% of adults here are highly educated, so brush up on your trivia before a pub quiz night if you want to compete. Albuquerque has great schools as well, achieving the 6th lowest high school dropout rate in New Mexico.

Homes in Albuquerque are the 6th most expensive statewide, with a median price of $204,100. But median household income keeps pace, with residents earning around $53,936 each year.

Located in the high desert at the base of the Sacramento Mountains, Alamogordo comes in as the 7th best place to live in New Mexico. We named Alamogordo one of the best places for singles in New Mexico and it’s not hard to see why. Date ideas include: a day out at the New Mexico Museum of Space History for the science nerds, the Heart of the Desert for wine-lovers and pistachio-poppers, the Alameda Park Zoo for animal-enthusiasts, and the White Sands National Park for anyone with an eye for breathtaking beauty.

The poverty and unemployment rates in Alamogordo both rank within the top ten statewide. The cost of living here is cheap, with housing costs about 25% below the statewide average. In fact, Alamogordo’s median home price of $125,400 is the lowest of anywhere on this list. As a bonus, Alamogordo has the 12th shortest average commute time in New Mexico at 17 minutes.

We’re taking our first trip to New Mexico’s northwest to reach our final stand-out city, Farmington. The principal hub of the Four Corners region, Farmington is an absolute paradise for outdoorsmen and women. Three rivers, four golf courses, five lakes, and six National Parks make up your backyard if you live in Farmington. World-class fly fishing, epic off-roading, unreal mountain biking, and limitless scenic landscapes — what more could you want in a place? Top spots in Farmington proper are the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, a rolling landscape of badlands with some fantastical rock formations, and Salmon Ruins, an outdoor experience for the aspiring archeologist.

Farmington is also among the most diverse cities in New Mexico, which greatly contributes to the cultural vibrancy here. Low unemployment, low poverty, good schools, and a solid housing market make for a high quality of life. Farmington residents also enjoy a median household income of $56,576, the 10th highest in New Mexico.

Located on the Pecos River in the Chihuahuan Desert, Carlsbad’s tree-lined streets, gorgeous public parks, and municipal beach on Lake Carlsbad all work to make this a truly spectacular oasis. For those who want to get up close and personal with the region’s wildlife, the unique Living Desert Zoo and Gardens offers an incredible experience. If exploring more hidden treasures is your cup of tea, you’ll probably find yourself returning again and again to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Carlsbad has grown by about 10% in the past decade as people swarm to a place with great schools, low unemployment and poverty rates, and high quality of life. Also, despite having the second cheapest median home price on this list, Carlsbad has the 2nd highest median income in New Mexico at $69,786/year. That combination of stats is part of the reason we named Carlsbad among New Mexico’s most affordable cities.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In New Mexico

Now that we had our set of cities, it was time to rank them.

We ranked each place in New Mexico across a number of criteria from one to 32, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Place To Live In New Mexico”.

The criteria we looked at were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in New Mexico? That would be Corrales.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in New Mexico.

Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Corrales at the end of the cul-de-sac.