#1White Rock
Los Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleOutdoors grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A+ · #2 of 72 in NM
White Rock, #1 on this list · Photo: AllenS · Public domainNew Mexico rankings · Outdoors
Best towns for the outdoors in New Mexico
White Rock ranks first on outdoors among New Mexico’s 73 towns of 2,500+; 26 of the 73 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work
#1A+
#2Aztec
San Juan County · 6,091 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #51 of 72 in NM
#3Los Alamos
Los Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 72 in NM
All 73 towns
Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 2 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
73 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1White RockLos Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A+ · #2 of 72
3Los AlamosLos Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 72
9Agua Friaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 2,898 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #16 of 72
10South Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 37,120 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #20 of 72
14La Cienegaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 3,543 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #4 of 72
15Truth or ConsequencesSierra County · 5,949 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #62 of 72
21Placitasunincorporated, Sandoval County · 4,223 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #17 of 72
24Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueBernalillo County · 5,790 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #14 of 72
26North Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 10,455 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #29 of 72
29University Park College campusunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,782 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
32Kirtland AFBunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,413 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #8 of 72
37Crouch Mesaunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,812 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #21 of 72
38Eldorado at Santa Feunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 5,619 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #9 of 72
43Meadow Lakeunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,259 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #48 of 72
44Lee Acresunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,272 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #60 of 72
45Sandia Heightsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,160 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #13 of 72
46Sunland ParkDoña Ana County · 18,268 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #32 of 72
47Crownpointunincorporated, McKinley County · 2,882 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #41 of 72
48Chaparralunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 18,186 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #35 of 72
49Vadounincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,895 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #28 of 72
50Paradise Hillsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 4,591 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #12 of 72
51Rio CommunitiesValencia County · 4,953 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #68 of 72
52North Hobbsunincorporated, Lea County · 6,034 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #24 of 72
54Flora Vistaunincorporated, San Juan County · 2,770 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #55 of 72
58Santa Teresaunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 6,041 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #36 of 72
60Zuni Pueblounincorporated, McKinley County · 5,864 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #63 of 72
62Shiprockunincorporated, San Juan County · 7,610 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #61 of 72
63Ranchos de Taosunincorporated, Taos County · 2,536 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #43 of 72
65Holloman AFBunincorporated, Otero County · 4,433 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #31 of 72
66El Cerro Missionunincorporated, Valencia County · 5,323 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #52 of 72
69La Mesillaunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 2,697 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #54 of 72
70Los Chavesunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,838 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #42 of 72
71Dulceunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 3,218 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #65 of 72
73El Cerrounincorporated, Valencia County · 2,923 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #6 of 72
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which New Mexico town is best for the outdoors?
White Rock (Los Alamos County) ranks first on outdoors among 73 towns, with an A+; Aztec and Los Alamos follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. 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 outdoors 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 ParkMost 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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