2026 editionWestPop. 2,125,498Capital Santa Fe47th state, admitted 1912Cook PVI D+5
Is New Mexico a Good Place to Live? New Mexico Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
New Mexico ranks #49 of 50 with a composite score of 30.6 and an F grade, strongest in outdoor access (#10) and weakest in education (#50). The median household earns $67,816 (16% below the national median), homes typically cost $318,241 (14% below the national average), and violent crime is 622 per 100,000 (90% above the national average).
Growth skipped New Mexico: population grows -0.06% against +0.51% nationally while Texas, Arizona and Colorado boom, and the trade for a cost index of 92.2 is violent crime 90% above the national average and the lowest graduation rate anywhere. Judge it town by town, because Los Alamos and Rio Rancho have little in common with Albuquerque or Gallup.
New Mexico by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with New Mexico's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the New Mexico overview
New Mexico scores above the national average in 4 of 11 categories and ranks #13 of 13 states in the West, behind 12 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is typical home value ($318,241, 14% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is violent crime rate (622, 90% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (7) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.
Where does New Mexico rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. New Mexico is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 7.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 32.2 | #41 of 50 | C | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 4.2% and median household income is $67,816. |
| Safety | 32.9 | #49 of 50 | F | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 621.6 violent crimes and 2,239.5 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 36.2 | #42 of 50 | C | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 74.5 years, 34.5% of adults have obesity, and 10.1% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 6.6 | #50 of 50 | F | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 256 in NAEP math and 245 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 76.6%. |
| Affordability | 81.0 | #13 of 50 | B+ | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $318,241 (4.7x median income); cost of living index 92.2 (100 = US). |
| Fiscal Health | 62.0 | #21 of 50 | B | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $3,050 of debt per resident, has 68% of pensions funded, and holds a AA credit rating. |
| Growth | 23.2 | #43 of 50 | D | 7% | 38.8 | Population shrank 0.06% last year; Census net domestic migration is -1.1 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 42.9 | #42 of 50 | C | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 24 minutes, 0.5% of workers use public transit, and 10.3% work from home. |
| Livability | 22.9 | #44 of 50 | D | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.647 restaurants and 0.026 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.056 bars and 0.082 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 44.3 | #10 of 50 | A | 6% | 29.4 | 34.7% of its land is public, with 2.83 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 50.8 | #13 of 50 | B+ | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 40, 53% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 27.4. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
New Mexico's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; New Mexico bulges toward outdoor access and dips at education.
How expensive is New Mexico?
New Mexico's cost of living index is 92.2 against a national baseline of 100, 8% below the national average and #15 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $318,241 (14% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $83,498, $15,682 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Roswell is cheapest (index 85.9) and Santa Fe priciest (98.8).
Housing market snapshot · August
Cool marketRanked #31 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #29 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $15,682 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full New Mexico housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | New Mexico | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$4,460 | −$11,758 | #16 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$33,992 | +$31,418 | #20 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$39,032 | +$35,970 | #18 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in New Mexico?
New Mexico's tax mix is middle of the pack on income, property and sales taxes. The total state and local tax burden comes to 9.62% of income, 0.9 points above the national average (#39 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.74% of home value (#17), and combined sales tax averages 7.67% (#34).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 62 out of 100, #21 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is New Mexico safe?
New Mexico reports 622 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 90% above the national average and #49 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 2,240 per 100,000, 46% above the national average (#50 of 50). The safety score is 32.9 out of 100, #49 of 50; among tracked cities, Sunland Park has the lowest violent crime rate.
New Mexico vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in New Mexico
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunland Park | 17,463 | 280 | 604 |
| Rio Rancho | 108,515 | 322 | 988 |
| Clovis | 37,942 | 378 | 1,562 |
| Artesia | 12,576 | 393 | 2,165 |
| Portales | 11,968 | 419 | 1,230 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 New Mexico cities we track. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in New Mexico?
New Mexico's unemployment rate is 4.2%, 0.3 points above the national average and #32 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $67,816, 16% below the national median. Real GDP grew +1.2% in the latest year (#44 of 50) and GDP per capita is $52,834, 18% below the national average. The population is shrinking 0.06% a year, 0.6 points below the national average. The economy score is 32.2 out of 100, #41 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in New Mexico, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $221,963 | $199,767 | Albuquerque |
| Lawyers | $146,343 | $131,709 | Albuquerque |
| Software Developers | $130,234 | $117,211 | Albuquerque |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $100,766 | $90,689 | Albuquerque |
| General & Operations Managers | $95,643 | $86,079 | Albuquerque |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are New Mexico's schools and healthcare?
New Mexico's education score is 6.6 out of 100, #50 of 50. Eighth graders average 256 in NAEP math (#50 of 50) and 245 in reading (#50 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 76.6%, 9.0 points below the national average (#50 of 50).
Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate
| City | Grad rate | Students / teacher | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos | 93% | 13.1 | $14,624 |
| Rio Rancho | 87.8% | 21 | $13,244 |
| Santa Fe | 85.5% | 14.4 | $14,624 |
NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.
New Mexico is #42 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 74.5 years, 2.4 years below the national average. 34.5% of adults have obesity (#28 of 50) and 10.1% of residents have no health insurance (#42 of 50). The health score is 36.2 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to New Mexico, and who is leaving?
New Mexico's flows are close to even: 30,572 households moved in and 30,785 moved out in the latest IRS release, a net of -213, or -0.1 per 1,000 residents (#30 of 50), too small to call a direction. Arriving households report an average income of $66,102 against $68,670 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net -7.6K people (53.0K in, 60.6K out, ±8.9K), consistent with the IRS direction.
Where they come from
- 1Texas7,197 · $62,650
- 2California3,262 · $76,801
- 3Arizona3,006 · $56,623
- 4Colorado2,642 · $63,646
- 5Florida1,579 · $72,662
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1Texas7,469 · $68,353
- 2Arizona3,435 · $60,445
- 3Colorado2,743 · $71,700
- 4California2,364 · $67,574
- 5Florida1,452 · $75,604
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in New Mexico?
By composite score, the best of the 20 New Mexico cities we track are Los Alamos (75.8), Rio Rancho (59.6), and Santa Fe (57). Roswell is the cheapest (cost index 85.9), Los Alamos the richest ($141,018), and Los Lunas the fastest growing (+3.1% a year). City ranks are among the 20 New Mexico cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in New Mexico
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Sunland Park | 280 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Roswell | cost of living index 85.9 |
| Most walkable | Albuquerque | walkability 13 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Los Alamos | median AQI 13 (county) |
| Best schools | Los Alamos | 93% graduation rate |
| Richest | Los Alamos | $141,018 |
Among the 20 New Mexico cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of New Mexico
Nearly half the state: Albuquerque with the jobs and the crime, Rio Rancho as the safer suburb, Los Lunas and the South Valley as the cheap edges.
The expensive, artsy capital at altitude, Los Alamos as the lab town with the state's highest incomes, and Las Vegas as the old railroad town that lost population.
Las Cruces is a college town in El Paso's orbit; Sunland Park and Chaparral are El Paso suburbs with New Mexico wages; Deming and Alamogordo are cheap and remote.
Carlsbad, Hobbs and Artesia run on oil, with West Texas wages and culture; Roswell, Clovis and Portales are ranching, dairy and Cannon Air Force Base, far from everything.
Farmington is the gas and coal town in transition; Gallup is the border town for the Navajo Nation and Zuni; both cheap, both losing people, both hours from Albuquerque.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Alamos | A+ | 75.8 | 13,317 | $141,018 | — | 85.9 |
| 2 | Rio Rancho | B+ | 59.6 | 108,515 | $89,596 | 322 | 95.5 |
| 3 | Santa Fe | B | 57.0 | 89,019 | $73,482 | 518 | 98.8 |
| 4 | Carlsbad | C | 50.0 | 31,746 | $72,306 | 576 | 85.9 |
| 5 | Clovis | C | 49.6 | 37,942 | $54,820 | 378 | 85.9 |
| 6 | Alamogordo | C | 49.6 | 31,307 | $55,952 | 433 | 85.9 |
| 7 | Los Lunas | C | 49.2 | 18,618 | $62,330 | 491 | 95.5 |
| 8 | Las Cruces | C | 49.0 | 114,197 | $55,422 | 496 | 90.2 |
| 9 | Albuquerque | D | 48.8 | 562,218 | $68,317 | 1,024 | 95.5 |
| 10 | Sunland Park | D | 48.8 | 17,463 | $62,814 | 280 | 90.2 |
| 11 | Artesia | D | 48.5 | 12,576 | $74,915 | 393 | 85.9 |
| 12 | Hobbs | D | 48.4 | 40,252 | $64,021 | 709 | 85.9 |
| 13 | Farmington | D | 47.9 | 46,314 | $68,784 | 1,045 | 87.7 |
| 14 | Roswell | D | 44.6 | 47,638 | $51,583 | 662 | 85.9 |
| 15 | South Valley | D | 43.7 | 37,120 | $58,224 | — | 95.5 |
| 16 | Portales | F | 42.5 | 11,968 | $50,555 | 419 | 85.9 |
| 17 | Las Vegas | F | 38.0 | 13,000 | $45,125 | 786 | 85.9 |
| 18 | Deming | F | 36.7 | 15,221 | $34,165 | — | 85.9 |
| 19 | Gallup | F | 36.6 | 21,023 | $58,303 | 1,291 | 85.9 |
| 20 | Chaparral | F | 36.3 | 18,186 | $46,017 | — | 90.2 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 New Mexico cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in New Mexico for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Alamos | 69.3 | 69.3 | — | 68.2 |
| 2 | Rio Rancho | 61.2 | 45.8 | 79.3 | 69.0 |
| 3 | Sunland Park | 58.8 | 63.7 | 84.7 | 83.2 |
| 4 | Santa Fe | 57.2 | 59.0 | 53.0 | 61.9 |
| 5 | Clovis | 57.1 | 39.7 | 71.6 | 86.9 |
Who is New Mexico best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best New Mexico cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does New Mexico compare with its neighbors?
New Mexico ranks #49. Among its bordering states, Colorado ranks highest (#18) and Oklahoma lowest (#43). Oklahoma is the most similar on the composite score and Colorado the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #49 | 30.6 | $67,816 | $318,241 | 92.2 | 622 | 9.62% | |
| Colorado | #18 | 64.7 | $97,113 | $532,748 | 103.1 | 422 | 8.73% | Compare → |
| Texas | #32 | 52.2 | $79,721 | $299,367 | 97.1 | 345 | 7.77% | Compare → |
| Arizona | #38 | 47.8 | $81,486 | $417,990 | 100.7 | 378 | 8.22% | Compare → |
| Oklahoma | #43 | 43.0 | $66,148 | $223,261 | 87.8 | 408 | 7.01% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 New Mexico city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the New Mexico numbers say when read together.
Outdoor Access is New Mexico's strongest suit
New Mexico is a #49 state overall but #10 of 50 for outdoor access, 39 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 44.3 against a national average of 29.4. Affordability (#13) is next. Outdoor access carries 6% of the composite.
Education is where New Mexico falls furthest behind
New Mexico ranks #50 of 50 for education, 1 places below its overall #49, with a score of 6.6 against a national average of 57.5. At 12% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Typical home value is 14% below the national average
New Mexico's typical home value is $318,241, 14% below the national average of $368,697, #20 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The largest gap in the other direction is violent crime rate: 622, 90% above the national average. Source: Zillow Research ZHVI, latest release.
Migration is a wash
Net -213 households on 61,357 moves is too small a margin to call a direction; New Mexico ranks #30 of 50 on net flow per 1,000 residents. The households arriving report $2,568 less in average income than those leaving ($66,102 against $68,670), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount shrinks. Texas is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income is squeezed less here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $4,460 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#16 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $33,992 surplus; a retiree couple at a $39,032 surplus. Infant childcare runs n/a a year, .
Every bordering state outranks New Mexico
All 4 of New Mexico's bordering states rank above its #49; the closest match on the composite is Oklahoma. Median income among them runs from $66,148 in Oklahoma to $97,113 in Colorado; New Mexico is at $67,816.
Frequently asked questions about living in New Mexico
Is New Mexico a good place to live?
New Mexico ranks #49 of 50 with an F grade, #13 of 13 in the West. It is top 10 in outdoor access and bottom 10 in economy, health, transportation, growth, livability, safety, and education. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 2 of 6 (home prices and cost of living) and trails on income, violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does New Mexico rank among US states?
New Mexico ranks #49 of 50 overall with a composite score of 30.6 (grade F), and #13 of 13 states in the West. Its best category rank is #10 (outdoor access) and its worst #50 (education). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so F means rank 49–50.
Is it expensive to live in New Mexico?
At #15 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), New Mexico is 8% below the national average: its index is 92.2 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $318,241 (14% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $83,498 against a median household income of $67,816. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $4,460 shortfall after all costs, #16 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does New Mexico have a state income tax?
Yes. New Mexico's top state income tax rate is 5.9% (#31 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 9.62% of income, 0.9 points above the national average. Property tax is 0.74% of home value and combined sales tax 7.67%.
What is the crime rate in New Mexico?
New Mexico reports 622 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 90% above the national average and #49 of 50 (1 = safest), and 2,240 property crimes per 100,000, 46% above the national average (#50). Its safety score is 32.9 out of 100, #49 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does New Mexico have good schools?
New Mexico is #50 of 50 for education (score 6.6 out of 100). Its public school students average 256 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#50) and 245 in eighth-grade reading (#50), and the high school graduation rate is 76.6%, 9.0 points below the national average (#50). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Los Alamos has the highest graduation rate at 93%.
Is New Mexico gaining or losing people?
Neither, to any meaningful degree: New Mexico netted -213 households in the latest IRS release on 30,572 arrivals and 30,785 departures, -0.1 per 1,000 residents (#30 of 50), a flow too small to call a direction. The largest source of arrivals is Texas (7,197 households) and the most common destination is Texas (7,469). Arriving households report an average income of $66,102 against $68,670 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is New Mexico a red or blue state?
New Mexico leans blue: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+5, meaning it votes about 5 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
Is New Mexico safe?
Not by the statewide numbers: violent crime is 90% above the national average and property crime ranks #50 of 50. The rate is concentrated in Albuquerque, particularly car theft along Central Avenue, and in Gallup and Farmington. Rio Rancho, Los Alamos and the Permian towns run well below it; Sunland Park is the safest tracked city. If safety is your first filter, pick the town, not the state.
Is New Mexico tax-friendly for retirees?
More than it used to be. Social Security is exempt from state income tax below an income ceiling that covers most retirees, and the property tax of 0.74% is 0.3 points below the national average. The catch is the gross receipts tax of 7.67%, which reaches services too. A retiree couple at $75,000 comes out at a $39,032 surplus, $3,062 above the national median; the state ranks #42 for retirees, mostly on health access and crime.
What is it like living in New Mexico?
Slow, dry, high and bilingual. Summers are hot but not Phoenix hot, winters bring real snow to Santa Fe, and the monsoon arrives in July. Spanish, Pueblo and Navajo culture are the foundation, and red or green chile is a daily question. Albuquerque is a mid-sized city with a crime problem; Santa Fe is a wealthy art town; everything else is small.
Is New Mexico cheaper than Arizona?
Yes, on nearly everything but income. New Mexico's cost index is 92.2 against Arizona's above-average figure, the typical home is $318,241 against a far higher Arizona price, and childcare is free. Arizona pays much more and ranks higher for families and jobs. For a retiree or remote worker the savings are real; for a young household needing a job market, Arizona usually wins.
What are the biggest industries or employers in New Mexico?
Federal science and defense, then oil. Los Alamos and Sandia national labs, Kirtland, Holloman and Cannon air bases, and White Sands are the largest stable employers; the Permian Basin around Carlsbad and Hobbs fills the state budget. Health care is big in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and Intel operates in Rio Rancho. The best cost-adjusted wage among tracked metros is family medicine physicians in Albuquerque at $199,767.
Does New Mexico get wildfires?
Yes, and the biggest in state history burned the mountains east of Santa Fe and Las Vegas. The FEMA risk index of 27.4 is 7% below the national average, since hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes are rare. What matters is spring wind and wildfire in the forested north, flash floods in burn scars during the monsoon, and drought on the Rio Grande. Mountain insurers have started pricing that in.
All the numbers
Every metric behind New Mexico's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.