Best Places to Live in New Mexico in 2024

New Mexico calls itself “the Land of Enchantment.” But what’s so enchanting about it? Lots of people probably think of vast deserts and Breaking Bad when they think of New Mexico. But the truth is that New Mexico is a lively place with natural beauty, amazing history and a unique character that has captured imaginations for centuries. Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keefe are just two of the many artists who have been enchanted by the sights of this state.

If you’re reading this, you might be thinking about moving to the Land of Enchantment. Maybe you’d like to trade humid and snowy Chicago for a drier climate that still keeps all the seasons. Or maybe you’re a super-smart scientist looking for some of the best research facilities on Earth. Or you might be a retiree imagining a slower pace of life for your golden years.

Whatever your reason, let’s take a look at some of the best places to live in New Mexico.

A Guide to the Land of Enchantment

It’s true that New Mexico has a very dry desert climate—especially during summer. But the state does experience all four seasons, with the land’s beautiful shades of brown and beige complemented by mountains and mesas surrounded by greenery and forests. And believe it or not, it does rain and snow! In fact, because New Mexico is home to the southernmost portion of the Rocky Mountains, skiing and snowboarding are popular winter activities in certain parts of the state.

Though the desert land is beautiful, the cities of New Mexico are spread out across it. And since there are very few options when it comes to public transportation, you’ll need a car that’s in good working order to take you from point A to point B (and be prepared for higher-than-average car insurance premiums because of that).

But a lot of the state’s charm comes from its history. People have been calling New Mexico home for thousands of years, with Native Americans, Spain and the Mexico all laying claim to the area before it became part of the U.S. There are ancient pueblos and centuries-old missions right next to more modern buildings. Over half of the state’s population is of Latino descent.¹ And the food also has a big Latino influence—especially the famous red and green chili peppers. They put those on everything!

The Best Places to Live in New MexIco

Something to remember: All “best places” lists are subjective—including this one. The “best place to live” for you will ultimately depend on your personal likes and dislikes. For example, some people love the energy of a city, while others prefer a quiet place out in the country.

Luckily, New Mexico has a nice variety of places to live that can suit all kinds of tastes and lifestyles. And to add a little more authenticity to our list, we consulted a few former New Mexicans who gave us some local insights based on their personal experience.

Alamogordo

Nestled in the Tularosa Basin, the city of Alamogordo (Spanish for “large cottonwood tree”) gets its unique character from its connection to both natural beauty and the might of the U.S. military. It’s the closest city to White Sands National Park—home of the world’s largest concentration of white sand dunes created by gypsum crystals. Outdoorsy people will love exploring its 275 square miles. You can even sled down those white dunes . . . it’s like snowboarding in summer (but this “snow” gets everywhere).

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Alamogordo is also a military town, located less than 10 miles from Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range. If you saw the movie Oppenheimer, this missile range is where Trinity, the world’s first atomic bomb test, was held back in 1945. The military opens the Trinity site for civilian visits twice a year. Other things to explore include a zoo, fascinating museums (including a Smithsonian-affiliated space museum), and a thriving performing arts scene.

Metro Area Population*	68,8232
Median Household Income	$50,7213
Median Home Price	$299,0004
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,4505
Average Annual Rainfall	12"6
Unemployment Rate***	3.7%7

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Unless otherwise noted, “Median Monthly Rent” refers to two-bedroom apartments.
***Unemployment rate includes all of Otero County.}

Pros	Low property taxes Great year-round weather Military town
Cons	Busy tourist industry

Albuquerque

Maybe Bugs Bunny wouldn’t have made so many wrong turns at Albuquerque if he had just followed Route 66. The historic “mother road” drives straight through the heart of the most populated city in New Mexico (and also one of the oldest).⁸ Settled by the Spanish over 300 years ago, the city was named for a title of royalty (originally spelled “Alburquerque”). It’s why Albuquerque is called “The Duke City.”

Despite its royal (and cartoon) pedigree, Albuquerque (known as “ABQ” or “The Q” to locals) is a pretty down-home place with all the conveniences of a big city. The mix of Latino and Native American influences, along with the classic American Route 66 vibe, creates a cool culture of food, art and music. The University of New Mexico also calls ABQ home (go Lobos!) and is one of the city’s top employers (along with Kirtland Air Force Base).⁹ Local sports include Isotopes minor league baseball (they’re the AAA affiliate for the Colorado Rockies). And don’t forget about the famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—the world’s largest hot-air balloon event.

Metro Area Population*	923,92510
Median Household Income	$61,50311
Median Home Price	$398,50012
Median Monthly Rent	$1,20913
Average Annual Rainfall	8“14
Unemployment Rate	3.6%15

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.}

Pros	Lots of things to do Food College/military town Affordable housing
Cons	Crime Strong winds

Carlsbad

About three hours southeast of Alamogordo is Carlsbad—a friendly, small town that might look like a suburb of a larger city at first. But Carlsbad is its own town with its own identity. And that identity is wrapped up in the natural wonders all around the city, including the Pecos River (the source of the city’s nickname, “Pearl on the Pecos”), Sitting Bull Falls, and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Some of the biggest industries in Carlsbad are also tied to natural resources: oil, natural gas and mining.¹⁶

But the biggest natural wonder is located just a few miles south of the city in the Guadalupe Mountains. Carlsbad Caverns National Park contains some of the largest natural cave networks on the planet—breathtaking places filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and all kinds of other crazy rock formations. The caves are easily accessible either by hiking trail or an elevator in the visitor center (talk about a modern convenience!). And during the summer sunsets, you can watch thousands of bats fly out of the caves as they search for food.

Metro Area Population*	61,26417
Median Household Income	$77,20918
Median Home Price	$300,00019
Median Monthly Rent**	$2,00020
Average Annual Rainfall	12"21
Unemployment Rate***	2.6%22

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Carlsbad is based on a general median.
***Unemployment rate includes all of Eddy County.}

Pros	Cost of living Low traffic
Cons	Crime High population density

Farmington

In northwestern New Mexico, near the Four Corners, sits the city of Farmington. The city’s position at the meeting point of the San Juan, Animas and La Plata Rivers makes it one of the most fertile areas of the state. Like Carlsbad, Farmington is also rich in mining and fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, and the energy industry is among the region’s top employers.²³

Farmington also has its own brand of fun—from its many parks along the river to the Glade Run with its hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails. The Navajo and Hopi Reservations lie just outside of the city and offer casino gambling, beautiful Native American arts and crafts, and amazing ancient sites to explore. And the American Amateur Baseball Congress holds its annual Connie Mack World Series at Ricketts Park.

Metro Area Population*	120,41824
Median Household Income	$61,38825
Median Home Price	$337,50026
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,69527
Average Annual Rainfall	12"28
Unemployment Rate	4%29

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Farmington is based on a general median.}

Pros	Small-town atmosphere Cost of living
Cons	Limited nightlife Crime Declining population

Las Cruces

Not far from Alamogordo is Las Cruces—a city at the crossroads of the past and the future. Founded way back in 1849, Las Cruces gets its name from three Christian crosses that were once seen north of the city (what those crosses actually were remains a mystery to this day). Even though the city is now the second largest in the state, Las Cruces still retains a lot of its humble beginnings through its historic buildings, museums and cultural centers.³⁰ The Aggies of New Mexico State University call Las Cruces home, and the school was founded only four decades after the town!

The future is represented by the city’s growing aerospace industry. Las Cruces has been a center of space research and training for over six decades, courtesy of the NASA White Sands Test Facility (located inside the White Sands Missile Range). Recently, Las Cruces has seen private commercial spaceflight take hold with the establishment of Spaceport America. Virgin Galactic also operates its space tourism business near Las Cruces.

Metro Area Population*	223,33731
Median Household Income	$51,01332
Median Home Price	$372,38833
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,50034
Average Annual Rainfall	9"35
Unemployment Rate	4.1%36

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Las Cruces is based on a general median.}

Pros	Cost of living College town Low traffic High-paying jobs
Cons	Crime High taxes

Los Alamos

You could describe Los Alamos as the ultimate company town. The city was literally built for one purpose—to house the scientists working on the super-secret Manhattan Project and their families (if you saw Oppenheimer, you saw the town). Since then, the “Atomic City” has come out of its secret, isolated past as a relatively small but thriving, wealthy community. And its placement on top of a set of desert mesas 7,000 feet above sea level makes for beautiful views no matter where you land.

Most of the people who live in Los Alamos are research scientists who work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (the successor facility to the Manhattan Project). Because those jobs have great pay, the cost of living in Los Alamos is pretty high—especially compared to the rest of New Mexico. It’s New Mexico’s answer to California’s Silicon Valley. Everything is more expensive because the people living there can afford it—something to keep in mind before settling there.

Metro Area Population*	19,25337
Median Household Income	$130,34238
Median Home Price	$743,50039
Median Monthly Rent**	$2,60040
Average Annual Rainfall	22"41
Unemployment Rate***	2.1%42

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Los Alamos is based on a general median.
***Rate includes all of Los Alamos County.}

Pros	Low crime High-paying jobs Great schools Low traffic
Cons	High cost of living Isolated Limited nightlife

Roswell

The alien-inspired welcome sign you’ll see driving into Roswell gives you a pretty good idea of the . . . quirkiness this city is world-famous for. See, back in the summer of 1947, something crashed at a ranch near Roswell (the government said it was a weather balloon—a likely story). The crash has since inspired lots and lots of speculation that that something was alien. So, the town has fully embraced its fame as a UFO hub and has all kinds of fun with it. There are alien-inspired cafés, laser tag, art installations, souvenir shops, and more. The city even hosts the annual Roswell UFO Festival.

But Roswell is more than just mid-century alien nostalgia. While tourism is a big part of the local economy, jobs can be found in industries like manufacturing, aviation and health care. There’s the natural New Mexican scenery, along with an abundance of parks and hiking trails. The city has museums focused on history, science, culture and local art. And speaking of art, Roswell also has its own symphony orchestra, jazz festival, and live theater program.

Metro Area Population*	64,70143
Median Household Income	$48,29844
Median Home Price	$220,25045
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,20046
Average Annual Rainfall	13"47
Unemployment Rate***	3.7%48

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Roswell is based on a general median.
***Unemployment rate includes all of Chaves County.}

Pros	Cost of living Culture
Cons	Crime High winds/dust storms

Ruidoso

Tucked in the shadow of Sierra Blanca Peak (New Mexico’s highest point) on the outskirts of Lincoln National Forest is the mountain town of Ruidoso—named for the Rio Ruidoso, one of three rivers that run through it. The Spanish translation is “noisy river”—and that’s a pretty good description of the place. This town is full of life and has completely embraced its Wild West history. In and around Ruidoso, you’ll find lots of cabin-style homes, western-themed tourist attractions, museums and historic places dedicated to the area’s western heritage, a quaint downtown district right out of Dodge City, and more. It’s no wonder that retail and tourism are big employment sectors in Ruidoso, along with construction.⁴⁹

Because of its rustic mountain setting, Ruidoso has made a name for itself in outdoor recreation. Hiking and biking trails, fishing, zip lines, and water sports dominate the summer. During the winter, the Ski Apache resort offers prime skiing and snowboarding conditions with runs for all experience levels. And if you’re not into the outdoorsy stuff, the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Ruidoso Downs Race Track, and Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts will keep indoor types busy.

Metro Area Population*	20,22250
Median Household Income	$36,03351
Median Home Price	$529,60052
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,50053
Average Annual Rainfall	23"54
Unemployment Rate***	3.4%55

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Ruidoso is based on a general median.
***Unemployment rate includes all of Lincoln County.}

Pros	Cost of living Mountain town
Cons	Crime Busy tourist seasons Wildfires

Santa Fe

The city of Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico, the oldest and highest capital city in the U.S. (over 400 years old and more than 7,000 feet above sea level!). Like Albuquerque, Santa Fe has a long history that shows itself in the many old buildings found throughout the city—remnants of its past in the hands of Spain and Mexico. Santa Fe is Spanish for “holy faith,” and has the oldest church in the U.S.: Mission San Miguel (built in 1610). And the surrounding Sangre de Cristo mountain terrain offers lots of outdoor activities year-round.

Santa Fe is known the world over for its arts and culture scene (the city is the third-largest art market in the U.S.), and the contrast of the historic and artistic has given Santa Fe the nickname of “The City Different.”⁵⁶ There’s a unique vibe walking through the city’s historic plaza with its hundreds of surrounding museums and art galleries. Tourism/hospitality is the second-biggest industry in town (government is number one).⁵⁷ The food is a wonderful mishmash of ethnic flavors (and did we mention the red and green chiles?). Live music, festivals and cultural showcases fill up the city’s event calendar. Santa Fe even has its own opera company.

Metro Area Population*	155,66458
Median Household Income	$67,66359
Median Home Price	$830,00060
Median Monthly Rent	$1,49261
Average Annual Rainfall	13"62
Unemployment Rate	3.4%63

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.}

Pros	Climate Culture/food Low traffic
Cons	Crime Cost of living Taxes Schools

Taos

Though it isn’t quite as old as Santa Fe, the town of Taos also has a long history. In fact, people have been living in what is now Taos for a thousand years. The town is named after the Taos language spoken by the Tiwa Pueblo Native Americans that inhabited the area—the same people who built the famous Taos Pueblo. Most of the town retains a similar adobe-style pueblo look, especially the beautiful Taos Plaza.

In addition to its long history, Taos also shares Santa Fe’s reputation as an artist hub. Surrounding the Taos Plaza are many shops, art galleries and museums that celebrate the local heritage, history and culture. Hospitality, recreation and retail are among the city’s largest industries.⁶⁴ And the plaza hosts festivals (like the Fiestas de Taos) and live music all year. The town also has its share of outdoor recreation in all seasons. The nearby Carson National Forest hosts Taos Ski Valley and other world-class ski resorts.

Metro Area Population*	34,47565
Median Household Income	$40,18566
Median Home Price	$641,25067
Median Monthly Rent**	$2,20068
Average Annual Rainfall	21"69
Unemployment Rate***	4.5%70

^{*The metro area population numbers include the cityand the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Rent data for Taos is based on a general median.
***Unemployment rate includes all of Taos County.}

Pros	Culture History Schools
Cons	Crime Limited employment Cost of living

Best Places to Live in New Mexico for Families

The Land of Enchantment can be a delightful place for kids. If you’re thinking about moving your whole brood to the deserts of New Mexico, check out these great spots to land—highly rated for safety, schools, and kid-centric perks like parks, playgrounds and museums.

Alamogordo

Carlsbad

Corrales

Los Alamos

Rio Rancho

Sandia Heights

White Rock

Best Places to Live in New Mexico for Young Professionals

There’s a lot for young singles to do in New Mexico—especially in the big cities. Soak up some local culture . . . search for the truth about aliens . . . whatever tickles your fancy.

Albuquerque

Gallup

Las Cruces

Mesilla

Roswell

Santa Fe

Taos

Best Places to Live in New Mexico for Retirees

Getting ready to retire? Seeking a quiet, peaceful patch of the desert to kick your feet up? Take a look at these great options with low costs of living and great proximity to quality health care facilities.

Carlsbad

Las Cruces

Ruidoso

Santa Fe

Silver City

Taos

Truth or Consequences

Ready to Move to New Mexico?

Does the Land of Enchantment enchant you enough to move there? Then it’s time to find a real estate agent. And not just any real estate agent. For a fast and easy way to find local New Mexico agents, look no further than our network of RamseyTrusted® agents.

We only recommend agents who know their territory, will take care of you the Ramsey way, and are on a mission to help you find the perfect desert oasis to call home.