New Mexico has a cost of living index of 86 (US average = 100) with a median household income of $67,503 and a population of 1,816,508. We ranked 15 cities based on affordability, income, housing value, and climate to find the best places to call home in New Mexico.
Los Alamos is 10% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $136,502 and a population of 13,471.
Rio Rancho is 0% more expensive than the national average with a median income of $85,755 and a population of 106,533.
Carlsbad is 16% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $78,277 and a population of 31,813.
Albuquerque is 12% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $65,604 and a population of 562,488.
Hobbs is 19% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $65,691 and a population of 39,887.
Artesia is 24% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $77,647 and a population of 12,555.
Lovington is 22% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $67,284 and a population of 11,444.
Gallup is 31% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $57,466 and a population of 21,333.
Farmington is 21% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $63,745 and a population of 46,339.
Roswell is 31% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $50,294 and a population of 47,823.
Clovis is 26% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $54,029 and a population of 38,153.
Las Cruces is 22% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $55,176 and a population of 112,612.
Alamogordo is 28% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $52,515 and a population of 31,063.
Chaparral is 34% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $46,102 and a population of 16,642.
Los Lunas is 13% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $63,696 and a population of 17,932.
Our livability score combines four data-driven factors: affordability (35% — cost of living index relative to national average), income (25% — median household income from the Census Bureau), housing value (15% — home price to income ratio), and climate (15% — NOAA temperature normals favoring moderate climates). Population serves as a proxy for amenities (10%).
Only cities with at least 5,000–10,000 residents are included. Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, Zillow, HUD, and NOAA.