Best Life Index › States › New Mexico › Cities › Albuquerque

New Mexico city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Albuquerque?

What it costs to live in Albuquerque, and how it compares with other New Mexico cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

39

11th best value in New Mexico

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New Mexico cities.

Overall livability

55

4th overall in New Mexico

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Albuquerque is home to about 562,336 people. A typical home runs $214,600 and a household earns around $56,400, a price-to-income ratio of 3.8. Among New Mexico's largest cities, it ranks 11th for value and 4th overall.

Albuquerque at a glance

Median home price

$214,600

11th in NM of 14

Median rent

$932/mo

Median household income

$56,400

Home price to income

3.8x

Unemployment

5.6%

5th in NM of 14

School rating

4/10

5th in NM of 14

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NM of 14

Walk score

70/100

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‹ See all top New Mexico cities ranked  ยท  New Mexico state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New Mexico only. Updated 2026.