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Palace of the GovernorsSanta Fe, the state capital · Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
New Mexico · 72 graded towns

Towns and cities in New Mexico

2 of New Mexico’s 72 graded towns and cities (3%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns. Los Alamos ranks first in the state with an A+; health (A+) and schools (A+) are its strongest grades; walkability (B) is its lowest.

Letters are national: the overall grade blends cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk. How grades work

How New Mexico compares: report cardBest places to liveBest small townsMost affordable townsSafest townsTowns with the best schoolsHealthiest towns
72
towns of 2,500+ with an overall grade
2
grade A− or better nationally
1
of 2,500+ without enough data for a grade
88
smaller places (1,000–2,499) with subject grades
Towns by letter
A+2A0A−0B+0B2B−8C+4C8C−24D19D−5

All 72 graded towns

Every town of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade, A to Z. The rank is among 72 New Mexico towns on the best places to live list.

72 graded towns, A to Z.

Sort:
  1. C+Agua Friaunincorporated, Santa Fe County#16 of 722,898
  2. C−AlamogordoOtero County#39 of 7231,906
  3. C−AlbuquerqueBernalillo County#44 of 72556,588
  4. CAnthonyDoña Ana County#19 of 728,900
  5. C−ArtesiaEddy County#26 of 7212,735
  6. DAztecSan Juan County#51 of 726,091
  7. DBelenValencia County#64 of 727,589
  8. C−BernalilloSandoval County#34 of 729,159
  9. DBloomfieldSan Juan County#67 of 727,335
  10. B−Bosque FarmsValencia County#11 of 724,174
  11. CCarlsbadEddy County#23 of 7232,524
  12. C−Chaparralunincorporated, Doña Ana County#35 of 7218,186
  13. B−ClaytonUnion County#7 of 722,510
  14. C−ClovisCurry County#37 of 7237,127
  15. B−CorralesSandoval County#5 of 728,484
  16. CCrouch Mesaunincorporated, San Juan County#21 of 724,812
  17. C−Crownpointunincorporated, McKinley County#41 of 722,882
  18. DDemingLuna County#49 of 7214,944
  19. DDulceunincorporated, Rio Arriba County#65 of 723,218
  20. B−EdgewoodSanta Fe County#10 of 726,157
  21. B−El Cerrounincorporated, Valencia County#6 of 722,923
  22. DEl Cerro Missionunincorporated, Valencia County#52 of 725,323
  23. B−Eldorado at Santa Feunincorporated, Santa Fe County#9 of 725,619
  24. DEspañolaRio Arriba County#59 of 7210,458
  25. C−EuniceLea County#47 of 723,037
  26. C−FarmingtonSan Juan County#40 of 7246,055
  27. DFlora Vistaunincorporated, San Juan County#55 of 722,770
  28. D−GallupMcKinley County#72 of 7219,969
  29. DGrantsCibola County#57 of 728,933
  30. C−HobbsLea County#38 of 7240,863
  31. C−Holloman AFBunincorporated, Otero County#31 of 724,433
  32. B−Kirtland AFBunincorporated, Bernalillo County#8 of 723,413
  33. BLa Cienegaunincorporated, Santa Fe County#4 of 723,543
  34. DLa Mesillaunincorporated, Rio Arriba County#54 of 722,697
  35. DLas CrucesDoña Ana County#56 of 72116,978
  36. D−Las VegasSan Miguel County#69 of 7212,574
  37. DLee Acresunincorporated, San Juan County#60 of 724,272
  38. A+Los AlamosLos Alamos County (city and county)#1 of 7213,317
  39. C−Los Chavesunincorporated, Valencia County#42 of 724,838
  40. DLos LunasValencia County#53 of 7220,572
  41. C+Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueBernalillo County#14 of 725,790
  42. C−LovingtonLea County#27 of 7211,620
  43. C−Meadow Lakeunincorporated, Valencia County#48 of 724,259
  44. CNorth Hobbsunincorporated, Lea County#24 of 726,034
  45. C−North Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County#29 of 7210,455
  46. B−Paradise Hillsunincorporated, Bernalillo County#12 of 724,591
  47. C+PeraltaValencia County#15 of 723,499
  48. CPlacitasunincorporated, Sandoval County#17 of 724,223
  49. C−PortalesRoosevelt County#25 of 7211,734
  50. C−Ranchos de Taosunincorporated, Taos County#43 of 722,536
  51. C−RatonColfax County#33 of 725,952
  52. D−Rio CommunitiesValencia County#68 of 724,953
  53. BRio RanchoSandoval County#3 of 72114,419
  54. D−RoswellChaves County#70 of 7246,878
  55. C−RuidosoLincoln County#45 of 727,580
  56. DRuidoso DownsLincoln County#58 of 722,588
  57. C+Sandia Heightsunincorporated, Bernalillo County#13 of 723,160
  58. CSanta FeSanta Fe County#22 of 7289,837
  59. CSanta RosaGuadalupe County#18 of 722,802
  60. C−Santa Teresaunincorporated, Doña Ana County#36 of 726,041
  61. DShiprockunincorporated, San Juan County#61 of 727,610
  62. C−Silver CityGrant County#30 of 729,284
  63. DSocorroSocorro County#50 of 728,261
  64. CSouth Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County#20 of 7237,120
  65. C−Sunland ParkDoña Ana County#32 of 7218,268
  66. DTaosTaos County#66 of 726,526
  67. DTruth or ConsequencesSierra County#62 of 725,949
  68. C−TucumcariQuay County#46 of 725,082
  69. D−TularosaOtero County#71 of 722,662
  70. C−Vadounincorporated, Doña Ana County#28 of 722,895
  71. A+White RockLos Alamos County (city and county)#2 of 725,716
  72. DZuni Pueblounincorporated, McKinley County#63 of 725,864
Also in New Mexico

Not on the ranked list

Not graded (1)

Towns of 2,500+ without enough data for an overall grade. Their pages show every subject that is graded.

  • –University Park Doña Ana County · 2,782 people. No overall grade: no cost of living or safety figures, and the overall needs three of the four.

Smaller places 88 with 1,000–2,499 residents

These have subject grades (safety, schools, health and the rest) but no overall grade or rank: the overall starts at 2,500 residents.

Go deeper

Lists in New Mexico

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All New Mexico rankings →
Best places to live72 towns · #1 Los AlamosBest small towns49 towns · #1 White RockMost affordable towns72 towns · #1 DulceSafest towns29 towns · #1 CorralesTowns with the best schools73 towns · #1 Los Alamos and White RockHealthiest towns73 towns · #1 White RockBest towns for jobs & income72 towns · #1 Sandia HeightsMost walkable towns73 towns · #1 Santa FeTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk73 towns · #1 University ParkBest towns for the outdoors73 towns · #1 White RockMost historic towns73 towns · #1 Las VegasTowns with the most civic life46 towns · #1 TaosTowns with the least snow69 towns · #1 DemingDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns69 towns · #1 DulceDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters72 towns · #1 Santa TeresaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers72 towns · #1 CarlsbadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers72 towns · #1 RuidosoDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes72 towns · #1 White RockDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes65 towns · #1 VadoDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns43 towns · #1 Los LunasDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries36 towns · #1 TaosDescribed, no letters