The 10 Best Small Towns In New Mexico For 2024


The best small towns in New Mexico are Sandia Heights and Talpa for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in New Mexico. Best sururbs in New Mexico. Best counties in New Mexico.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Land of Enchantment, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in New Mexico based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in New Mexico ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In New Mexico For 2024

  1. Sandia Heights
  2. Talpa
  3. Mesilla
  4. El Cerro
  5. White Sands
  6. San Ysidro
  7. Paradise Hills
  8. Bosque Farms
  9. La Villita
  10. Sandia Knolls
  11. Ranchos de Taos
  12. Tome
  13. La Mesilla
  14. Arroyo Seco
  15. Elephant Butte

Best Small Towns To Live In New Mexico Map

What’s the best small town in New Mexico? Sandia Heights is the best small town in New Mexico based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Sandia Heights, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Land of Enchantment check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In New Mexico For 2024

1. Sandia Heights

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,205
Median Income: $151,991 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $804,639 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

2. Talpa

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,559
Median Income: $46,473 (52nd Best)
Median Home Value: $457,875 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

3. Mesilla

Mesilla, NM

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,647
Median Income: $65,809 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $398,046 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

4. El Cerro

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,244
Median Income: $108,200 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $315,967 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

5. White Sands

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,449
Median Income: $88,750 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $0 (87th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. San Ysidro

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,205
Median Income: $126,500 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $398,182 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 9.8%

7. Paradise Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,441
Median Income: $68,710 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $312,711 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

8. Bosque Farms

Bosque Farms, NM

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,001
Median Income: $67,435 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $402,921 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

9. La Villita

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,504
Median Income: $99,127 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $350,562 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

10. Sandia Knolls

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,410
Median Income: $98,298 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $381,630 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

11. Ranchos De Taos

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,313
Median Income: $50,750 (43rd Best)
Median Home Value: $394,695 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Tome

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,013
Median Income: $77,778 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $398,046 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

13. La Mesilla

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,456
Median Income: $71,473 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $337,538 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

14. Arroyo Seco

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,858
Median Income: $59,960 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $581,003 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 20.9%

15. Elephant Butte

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,573
Median Income: $52,641 (42nd Best)
Median Home Value: $202,412 (46th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In New Mexico

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in New Mexico possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 89 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 89, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in New Mexico. Top of that list — Sandia Heights.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in New Mexico.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in New Mexico are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in New Mexico are Sandia Heights, Talpa, Mesilla, El Cerro, White Sands, San Ysidro, Paradise Hills, Bosque Farms, La Villita, and Sandia Knolls.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in New Mexico:

  1. Thoreau
  2. Alamo
  3. Navajo

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In New Mexico

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Sandia Heights, NM 3,205 $151,991 1.7%
2 Talpa, NM 1,559 $46,473 0.0%
3 Mesilla, NM 1,647 $65,809 1.3%
4 El Cerro, NM 3,244 $108,200 3.0%
5 White Sands, NM 1,449 $88,750 0.0%
6 San Ysidro, NM 2,205 $126,500 9.8%
7 Paradise Hills, NM 4,441 $68,710 4.5%
8 Bosque Farms, NM 4,001 $67,435 3.4%
9 La Villita, NM 1,504 $99,127 0.0%
10 Sandia Knolls, NM 1,410 $98,298 3.2%
11 Ranchos De Taos, NM 2,313 $50,750 0.0%
12 Tome, NM 1,013 $77,778 2.0%
13 La Mesilla, NM 2,456 $71,473 2.7%
14 Arroyo Seco, NM 1,858 $59,960 20.9%
15 Elephant Butte, NM 1,573 $52,641 2.7%
16 El Rancho, NM 1,513 $66,250 0.7%
17 Los Chaves, NM 4,840 $77,364 3.6%
18 Las Maravillas, NM 1,796 $55,734 4.6%
19 High Rolls, NM 1,611 $71,094 0.0%
20 Cannon Afb, NM 2,682 $56,786 15.6%
21 Ponderosa Pine, NM 1,246 $88,253 11.4%
22 La Cienega, NM 3,948 $72,959 6.0%
23 Peralta, NM 3,379 $57,711 11.3%
24 Tesuque, NM 1,123 $56,250 8.2%
25 Boles Acres, NM 2,137 $73,030 0.7%
26 Ohkay Owingeh, NM 1,173 $62,266 7.1%
27 Jemez Pueblo, NM 2,070 $56,116 3.7%
28 Spencerville, NM 1,174 $71,705 3.0%
29 Agua Fria, NM 2,523 $42,411 0.8%
30 La Puebla, NM 1,036 $68,393 18.2%
31 Eunice, NM 3,020 $68,819 7.9%
32 Holloman Afb, NM 4,182 $48,263 6.0%
33 Chimayo, NM 2,955 $61,250 0.9%
34 Atoka, NM 1,280 $77,816 2.6%
35 Flora Vista, NM 2,346 $41,525 0.0%
36 Capitan, NM 1,381 $48,826 2.9%
37 El Valle De Arroyo Seco, NM 1,744 $65,750 6.0%
38 Pojoaque, NM 2,336 $61,583 4.6%
39 Santa Clara, NM 1,744 $46,078 5.6%
40 Questa, NM 2,179 $53,047 0.6%
41 Bayard, NM 2,152 $34,699 7.6%
42 Arenas Valley, NM 1,060 $68,068 5.3%
43 Santa Rosa, NM 2,741 $41,250 7.9%
44 West Hammond, NM 2,410 $61,250 8.6%
45 Hurley, NM 1,561 $39,313 5.9%
46 Loving, NM 1,413 $50,000 6.8%
47 Jarales, NM 1,690 $50,673 11.4%
48 Waterflow, NM 1,325 $58,309 8.4%
49 Nambe, NM 2,165 $42,596 10.7%
50 Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 1,006 $59,318 4.8%
51 Algodones, NM 1,063 $40,500 6.4%
52 University Park, NM 2,744 $23,375 22.1%
53 Mountainair, NM 1,071 $38,482 11.0%
54 Dulce, NM 2,261 $41,250 19.1%
55 La Luz, NM 1,858 $41,467 40.6%
56 Hatch, NM 1,673 $42,917 20.1%
57 Jal, NM 2,258 $56,731 13.9%
58 Lee Acres, NM 4,858 $44,850 22.3%
59 Dexter, NM 1,025 $48,750 9.6%
60 Tularosa, NM 2,590 $47,234 21.3%
61 Radium Springs, NM 1,657 $41,750 13.9%
62 Ruidoso Downs, NM 2,635 $28,939 2.0%
63 Vado, NM 3,386 $46,380 6.5%
64 Mesita, NM 1,270 $49,719 5.6%
65 Milan, NM 2,375 $36,433 17.4%
66 Carrizozo, NM 1,035 $27,829 8.2%
67 La Plata, NM 2,063 $53,056 8.5%
68 Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM 2,021 $52,969 8.1%
69 Lordsburg, NM 2,114 $37,240 5.2%
70 Clayton, NM 2,825 $33,239 8.8%
71 Skyline-Ganipa, NM 1,132 $62,895 5.3%
72 Paraje, NM 1,362 $28,942 0.0%
73 Indian Hills, NM 1,197 $57,431 19.4%
74 Taos Pueblo, NM 1,422 $36,597 14.1%
75 Keeler Farm, NM 1,716 $49,231 21.3%
76 Berino, NM 1,250 $26,477 9.9%
77 Columbus, NM 1,281 $26,549 13.7%
78 Moriarty, NM 2,154 $33,026 18.6%
79 Black Rock, NM 1,259 $45,714 11.4%
80 Meadow Lake, NM 4,745 $36,525 10.4%
81 Estancia, NM 1,591 $32,286 34.9%
82 El Cerro Mission, NM 4,999 $45,264 15.9%
83 Crownpoint, NM 2,823 $35,362 12.8%
84 Church Rock, NM 1,395 $31,875 7.3%
85 San Felipe Pueblo, NM 1,430 $33,000 24.0%
86 Upper Fruitland, NM 1,533 $38,125 10.3%
87 Navajo, NM 2,071 $28,160 19.3%
88 Alamo, NM 1,081 $24,118 22.5%
89 Thoreau, NM 2,361 $30,125 18.2%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns