Dulce
unincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 3,218 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 0.9 years of area income·Overall D · #65 of 72 in NM
New Mexico rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in New Mexico
Dulce ranks first on cost of living among New Mexico’s 72 towns of 2,500+; 16 of the 72 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
A+
#2Eunice
Lea County · 3,037 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #47 of 72 in NM
#3Zuni Pueblo
unincorporated, McKinley County · 5,864 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.7 years of area income·Overall D · #63 of 72 in NM
All 72 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 4 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
72 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
1Dulceunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 3,218 peopleA+0.9 years of area income·Overall D · #65 of 72
3Zuni Pueblounincorporated, McKinley County · 5,864 peopleA+1.7 years of area income·Overall D · #63 of 72
T4Los AlamosLos Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleA3.9 years of area income·Overall A+ · #1 of 72
T4Vadounincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,895 peopleA4.6 years of area income·Overall C− · #28 of 72
6El Cerro Missionunincorporated, Valencia County · 5,323 peopleA1.6 years of area income·Overall D · #52 of 72
7White RockLos Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleA3.4 years of area income·Overall A+ · #2 of 72
8Meadow Lakeunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,259 peopleA1.1 years of area income·Overall C− · #48 of 72
10Chaparralunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 18,186 peopleA−3.8 years of area income·Overall C− · #35 of 72
11Crouch Mesaunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,812 peopleA−1.6 years of area income·Overall C · #21 of 72
13Shiprockunincorporated, San Juan County · 7,610 peopleA−1.9 years of area income·Overall D · #61 of 72
14Crownpointunincorporated, McKinley County · 2,882 peopleA−1.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #41 of 72
17El Cerrounincorporated, Valencia County · 2,923 peopleB+4.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #6 of 72
26Agua Friaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 2,898 peopleB3.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #16 of 72
27Los Chavesunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,838 peopleB4.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #42 of 72
33South Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 37,120 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall C · #20 of 72
38North Hobbsunincorporated, Lea County · 6,034 peopleB−3.9 years of area income·Overall C · #24 of 72
41Ranchos de Taosunincorporated, Taos County · 2,536 peopleC+6.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #43 of 72
43North Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 10,455 peopleC+4.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #29 of 72
46Paradise Hillsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 4,591 peopleC+3.6 years of area income·Overall B− · #12 of 72
47Lee Acresunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,272 peopleC+3.4 years of area income·Overall D · #60 of 72
48La Mesillaunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 2,697 peopleC+5.5 years of area income·Overall D · #54 of 72
51La Cienegaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 3,543 peopleC+6.5 years of area income·Overall B · #4 of 72
55Flora Vistaunincorporated, San Juan County · 2,770 peopleC5.5 years of area income·Overall D · #55 of 72
65Santa Teresaunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 6,041 peopleC−5.6 years of area income·Overall C− · #36 of 72
66Placitasunincorporated, Sandoval County · 4,223 peopleC−9.1 years of area income·Overall C · #17 of 72
68Eldorado at Santa Feunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 5,619 peopleC−7.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #9 of 72
69Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueBernalillo County · 5,790 peopleD10.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #14 of 72
70Sandia Heightsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,160 peopleD9.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #13 of 72
71Holloman AFBunincorporated, Otero County · 4,433 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #31 of 72
72Kirtland AFBunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,413 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #8 of 72
Not ranked
1 town without a cost of living grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- University Park Doña Ana County · 2,782 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in New Mexico?
Dulce (Rio Arriba County) ranks first on cost of living among 72 towns, with an A+; Eunice and Zuni Pueblo follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (72 in New Mexico). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the New Mexico page.
Go deeper
All New Mexico rankings →More New Mexico lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live72 towns · #1 Los AlamosBest small towns49 towns · #1 White RockSafest 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
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