Best Life Index › States › New Mexico › Cities › South Valley

New Mexico city profile

What Is It Like to Live in South Valley?

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

Value score

33

12th best value in New Mexico

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

Overall livability

34

13th overall in New Mexico

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

South Valley is home to about 36,583 people. A typical home runs $157,900 and a household earns around $40,300, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among New Mexico's largest cities, it ranks 12th for value and 13th overall.

South Valley at a glance

Median home price

$157,900

12th in NM of 14

Median rent

$781/mo

Median household income

$40,300

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

6.1%

8th in NM of 14

School rating

2/10

13th in NM of 14

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NM of 14

Walk score

3/100

See your real take-home pay in New Mexico

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after New Mexico taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ 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.