Often the decision about where to live is determined by a job or the desire to be near family members. But sometimes the choice is all yours to make. While that’s freeing, it’s also a little overwhelming because there are so many factors to consider and a lengthy list of possible places to call home in New Mexico. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the best places to live in New Mexico to give an idea of a few great options.

We’ve used a variety of sources, but especially Area Vibes, to assess the pros and cons of different locations. This list is not in order; it’s mostly broken down by your top priority, instead. Obviously, livability is highly subjective, but we hope these towns and cities will help you on your hunt. Whether you’re intending to move to New Mexico or relocate within the state, here are some great options.

1. Safety: Corrales (population 8329)
Flickr/Mike Tungate
According to Movoto, the Village of Corrales is the safest place to live in New Mexico. Area Vibes also awards Corrales an "A" for crime and gives it an overall livability score of 79/100. Bonus: the school system scores highly as well.
2. Most affordable: Rio Rancho (population 87,521)
Flickr/Jordan Meeter
According to Nerd Wallet, Rio Rancho is the eighth most affordable place to live in the whole of the country. Although there are places in New Mexico where the cost of living is lower, that doesn’t help much if the median income is also below average. When you combine the median income with the cost of living, Rio Rancho does well. Bonus: Area Vibes also awards it good grades for education and amenities.
3. If you want to live in a small town: Mesilla
Flickr/Jasperdo
Mesilla receives great scores for weather, education, and crime. Unlike many small towns there are decent employment opportunities. Area Vibes gives Mesilla 81/100 overall. Bonus: Mesilla is historic and picturesque.
4. If you want to live in a small city: Ruidoso (population 8,029)
Flickr/Beatnik Photos
Ruidoso is appealing for its low cost of living, good amenities, and high graduation rate. Bonus: The scenery is gorgeous too.

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5. Best place to retire: Las Cruces (population 97,618)
Flickr/David Herrera
"AARP The Magazine" has raved about Las Cruces as a retirement spot. The city offers great weather, a low cost of living, and residents have high life expectancy rates. Area Vibes gives Las Cruces an "A+" for amenities and an overall score of 81/100 – one of the highest in New Mexico.
6. Best place to raise a family: Los Alamos (population 12,019)
Flickr/Jeff Hay
If you’re raising a family, safety and good schools are probably high on your priority list. When considering both those factors, Los Alamos comes out ahead. Its school district is well regarded and the city has high graduation rates. The ratio of teachers to students is 15:1 and test scores are significantly higher than the national average. The only potential downside? Your kids will have to move away in order to attend a four-year college. Bonus: Los Alamos County happens to be the healthiest county in New Mexico.
7. Natural Beauty: Cloudcroft (population 674)
Flickr/thekarmapolice
Cloudcroft is a gorgeous place, nestled in Lincoln National Forest. If incredible scenery is a priority, check out this town, which has an overall livability rating of 78/100 on Area Vibes. Bonus: This is a great area for hiking.
8. Great for foodies: Albuquerque (population 545,852)
Flickr/Ken Lund
Fabulous food is available throughout New Mexico and many mouthwatering restaurants are located in small towns. However, "Travel+Leisure" ranked Albuquerque sixth in the entire country for food, which puts the city in the big leagues. Foodies will love the range and number of quality restaurants here, many of which source food locally or are farm-to-table. Bonus: Area Vibes ranks Albuquerque highly in categories like cost of living and amenities.
9. Best for the Arts: Santa Fe (population 67,947)
Flickr/Ali Eminov
New Mexico is filled with artsy enclaves but the concentration of art in Santa Fe can’t be beat. In fact, the city has the third biggest art market in the country. Between the numerous museums and galleries, the annual art markets, Meow Wolf, and the public sculptures on almost every corner, art lovers will never grow bored here. Bonus: Since the Violet Crown opened in the Railyard, movie lovers can enjoy art house (and blockbuster) pics in style.

Have you called any of these places home? What other towns and cities are strong contenders in these categories? If you’re not entirely sure if you want to move to New Mexico, here are some reasons people love living here.

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More to Explore

Best Places To Live In New Mexico

Leah | April 23, 2021

What are the best things about living in New Mexico?

If you're considering moving to New Mexico, you have quite a few things to look forward to. The state is full of culture and as such, full of great food. The unique New Mexican cuisine is fantastic, whether you've grown up with it or are trying it for the first time. Plus, you can't find chile better anywhere else in the world. New Mexico is also a fantastic place for people who enjoy the outdoors. From high plains to rugged mountains, it's so much more than just desert. The variety of parks and recreation areas make it all the more perfect.

What are people from New Mexico like?

Once you've moved to New Mexico, you'll want to know what the local phrases and practices are. People from this state do have some habits that out-of-staters might consider a bit strange. If you're at a restaurant and your waitstaff asks if you want it red, green, or Christmas style - don't be confused. They're just asking what type of chile you want on it, Christmas style meaning both. New Mexicans are usually quite proud of their state and for good reason. Don't be surprised if you see the state flag's symbol - the Zia - on people's cars, merchandise, or even tattooed on their skin.

What are some facts about New Mexico?

Living in New Mexico comes with some bragging rights! The state capital is the highest in elevation of all the capitals in the US, with Santa Fe sitting at 7,000 feet. It is the host of the world's largest hot air balloon festival, the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, in Albuquerque. The state is home to White Sands National Park, a stunning desert of bright white gypsum sand and the largest of its kind in the world. There are more World Heritage Sites in the Land of Enchantment than there are in any other state. Wow!

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Featured Addresses
Corrales, NM, USA
Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Mesilla, NM, USA
Ruidoso, NM, USA
Las Cruces, NM, USA
Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
Cloudcroft, NM 88317, USA
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Santa Fe, NM, USA