#1Las Vegas
San Miguel County · 12,574 peopleHistory grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #69 of 72 in NM
Las Vegas, #1 on this list · Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0New Mexico rankings · History
Most historic towns in New Mexico
Las Vegas ranks first on history among New Mexico’s 73 towns of 2,500+; 8 of the 73 grade A− or better on history nationally.
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work
#1A
#2Santa Fe
Santa Fe County · 89,837 peopleHistory grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #22 of 72 in NM
#3Taos
Taos County · 6,526 peopleHistory grade, better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #66 of 72 in NM
All 73 towns
History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 12 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
73 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
4AlbuquerqueBernalillo County · 556,588 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #44 of 72
13Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueBernalillo County · 5,790 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #14 of 72
14Ranchos de Taosunincorporated, Taos County · 2,536 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #43 of 72
16North Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 10,455 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #29 of 72
17South Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 37,120 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #20 of 72
29Dulceunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 3,218 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #65 of 72
31Truth or ConsequencesSierra County · 5,949 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #62 of 72
35Zuni Pueblounincorporated, McKinley County · 5,864 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #63 of 72
37La Cienegaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 3,543 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #4 of 72
40Chaparralunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 18,186 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #35 of 72
41Vadounincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,895 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #28 of 72
42Los AlamosLos Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 72
43University Park College campusunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,782 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
46Shiprockunincorporated, San Juan County · 7,610 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #61 of 72
47El Cerrounincorporated, Valencia County · 2,923 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #6 of 72
49La Mesillaunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 2,697 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #54 of 72
50Meadow Lakeunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,259 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #48 of 72
51Flora Vistaunincorporated, San Juan County · 2,770 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #55 of 72
52Los Chavesunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,838 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #42 of 72
T53Placitasunincorporated, Sandoval County · 4,223 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #17 of 72
55North Hobbsunincorporated, Lea County · 6,034 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #24 of 72
57Crownpointunincorporated, McKinley County · 2,882 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #41 of 72
58White RockLos Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 72
59Eldorado at Santa Feunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 5,619 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #9 of 72
T62Agua Friaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 2,898 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #16 of 72
T62Crouch Mesaunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,812 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #21 of 72
T62El Cerro Missionunincorporated, Valencia County · 5,323 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #52 of 72
T62Holloman AFBunincorporated, Otero County · 4,433 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #31 of 72
T62Lee Acresunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,272 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #60 of 72
T62Paradise Hillsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 4,591 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #12 of 72
T62Sandia Heightsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,160 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #13 of 72
T62Santa Teresaunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 6,041 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #36 of 72
71Kirtland AFBunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,413 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #8 of 72
T72Rio CommunitiesValencia County · 4,953 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall D− · #68 of 72
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most historic town in New Mexico?
Las Vegas (San Miguel County) ranks first on history among 73 towns, with an A; Santa Fe and Taos follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. 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 history grade (73 in New Mexico). 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 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 RockTowns 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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