Live Your Best Life In New Mexico's 10 Coziest Cities And Towns
By Monica Spencer|Published February 04, 2020
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Are you on the lookout for a new place to rest your weary head each night? Your search just got a little easier. The city data website, Homesnacks, just released an updated version of the best places to live around the country, including right here in New Mexico.
Starting this list is Farmington, located in the far northwestern portion of the state. It has a combination of fairly low crime rates for a city its size, low unemployment rates (5.7%), and a median home value of $187,900.
Coming in at number nine is Carlsbad, home to the wonderous Carlsbad Caverns and perhaps even you! Here the median income is $66,100 and the unemployment rate is 4%. The education level is fairly high; 51% of the population has some level of college education and 88% has at least a high school diploma.
White Sands National Park and some hot springs resorts are just around the corner from this town. The unemployment rates are the tenth lowest in the state (5.8%), rent is low (median $799), and the median home value is $110,800. Oh, let's also not forget that residents here have one of the shortest commutes in the state, ranked at seventh shortest!
Santa Fe seems to have it all: history, captivating views, a thriving art scene, and its place as the seventh-best place to enjoy your days in the Land of Enchantment. The unemployment rate is just 5% and the median home value was a whopping $270,700!
Life in Artesia is just as lovely as the city's name. Ranking at sixth-best on this list, Artesia has a medium income of about $51,200 and the median home value is about $168,100. The city is also a heavy investor in its future; according to Homesnacks, the city ranks third when it comes to spending amounts per student.
Most New Mexicans know Ruidoso as a ski destination but it's also one of the top places to call home in the state. The unemployment rate is down at 5.7%, the median home value is $214,400, and the median rent prices are just $694! The population here is also very well educated; 96% of adults over 25 had a high school diploma and 66% had some level of college education.
Sitting on the outskirts of Albuquerque, Los Ranchos tops the list once again as one of the best places to live in New Mexico. The unemployment rate sits at a mere 3% and the median household salary was $62,200.
Rio Rancho is significantly larger than its name suggests and the population continues to steadily increase here. The median income is $63,000, the median house value is $184,000 and the unemployment rate is pretty darn low (7%).
You can sleep soundly in this town that conveniently sits 20 miles east of Albuquerque and 50 miles south of Santa Fe, making it an ideal bedroom community. The median income here is $59,200 and the median home value sits at $195,900.
The top place to live in New Mexico according to Homesnacks? The village of Corrales which sits in the northern stretches of Albuquerque. Crime is exceptionally low here, unemployment sits at just 4.6% (the fifth-best in the state), and the median income is $79,300!
Did any of these locations surprise you? Which city or town do you think should have been included on this list?