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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in New Mexico, 2026

Zuni Pueblo is the most affordable ranked town in New Mexico. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

44
Towns ranked in New Mexico.
Zuni Pueblo
Number 1 in New Mexico. Rent is 15.4% of income. National rank 208.
20.5%
Median rent share among ranked towns in New Mexico.
0
Ranked New Mexico towns in the national top 100.
Eldorado at Santa Fe
Least affordable ranked town in New Mexico. Rent is 28.4% of income. National rank 3962.

Gasoline

$3.954

per gallon. EIA does not publish a New Mexico price. This is the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $1,897.92 a year for every ranked town in New Mexico.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: New Mexico." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/new-mexico

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Benefits and taxes in New Mexico

Top 25

  1. #1 in New Mexico · National #208

    Zuni Pueblo

    Rent share 15.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.215

    Median rent is $588 a month and median income is $45,724, so rent is 15.4% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in New Mexico · National #283

    Los Alamos

    Rent share 11.6% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.230

    Median rent is $1,359 a month and median income is $141,018, so rent is 11.6% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in New Mexico · National #360

    Raton

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.240

    Median rent is $741 a month and median income is $52,641, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in New Mexico · National #380

    Anthony

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.243

    Median rent is $561 a month and median income is $38,132, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Las Cruces, NM metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in New Mexico · National #390

    Farmington

    Rent share 18.1% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.244

    Median rent is $1,037 a month and median income is $68,784, so rent is 18.1% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Farmington, NM metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in New Mexico · National #393

    Aztec

    Rent share 18.0% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.244

    Median rent is $629 a month and median income is $41,977, so rent is 18.0% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Farmington, NM metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in New Mexico · National #424

    Sunland Park

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.249

    Median rent is $920 a month and median income is $62,814, so rent is 17.6% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Las Cruces, NM metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in New Mexico · National #502

    Lovington

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.257

    Median rent is $1,014 a month and median income is $68,821, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in New Mexico · National #737

    Gallup

    Rent share 19.1% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.282

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $58,303, so rent is 19.1% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #10 in New Mexico · National #808

    Corrales

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.288

    Median rent is $1,143 a month and median income is $102,307, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in New Mexico · National #825

    Alamogordo

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $902 a month and median income is $55,952, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  12. #12 in New Mexico · National #877

    Bernalillo

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.294

    Median rent is $902 a month and median income is $63,880, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in New Mexico · National #898

    North Hobbs

    Rent share 19.2% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.296

    Median rent is $1,319 a month and median income is $82,554, so rent is 19.2% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  14. #14 in New Mexico · National #899

    Grants

    Rent share 19.9% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.296

    Median rent is $783 a month and median income is $47,183, so rent is 19.9% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  15. #15 in New Mexico · National #1030

    Roswell

    Rent share 20.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.305

    Median rent is $876 a month and median income is $51,583, so rent is 20.4% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  16. #16 in New Mexico · National #1104

    Edgewood

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 98.8 · Score 0.311

    Median rent is $1,114 a month and median income is $84,761, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Santa Fe, NM metro price level is 98.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  17. #17 in New Mexico · National #1129

    Carlsbad

    Rent share 20.5% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.312

    Median rent is $1,236 a month and median income is $72,306, so rent is 20.5% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  18. #18 in New Mexico · National #1134

    North Valley

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.312

    Median rent is $893 a month and median income is $61,498, so rent is 17.4% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  19. #19 in New Mexico · National #1186

    Deming

    Rent share 20.6% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.316

    Median rent is $586 a month and median income is $34,165, so rent is 20.6% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  20. #20 in New Mexico · National #1197

    Hobbs

    Rent share 20.8% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.317

    Median rent is $1,112 a month and median income is $64,021, so rent is 20.8% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  21. #21 in New Mexico · National #1221

    Artesia

    Rent share 20.6% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.318

    Median rent is $1,288 a month and median income is $74,915, so rent is 20.6% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  22. #22 in New Mexico · National #1229

    Las Cruces

    Rent share 21.1% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.319

    Median rent is $974 a month and median income is $55,422, so rent is 21.1% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Las Cruces, NM metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  23. #23 in New Mexico · National #1256

    Chaparral

    Rent share 22.2% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.321

    Median rent is $853 a month and median income is $46,017, so rent is 22.2% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Las Cruces, NM metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  24. #24 in New Mexico · National #1261

    Shiprock

    Rent share 23.2% · Price level 87.7 · Score 0.321

    Median rent is $694 a month and median income is $35,900, so rent is 23.2% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Farmington, NM metro price level is 87.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  25. #25 in New Mexico · National #1269

    Portales

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.321

    Median rent is $903 a month and median income is $50,555, so rent is 21.4% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

Least affordable 10

  1. #44 in New Mexico · National #3962

    Eldorado at Santa Fe

    Rent share 28.4% · Price level 98.8 · Score 0.516

    Median rent is $2,526 a month and median income is $106,633, so rent is 28.4% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Santa Fe, NM metro price level is 98.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #43 in New Mexico · National #3419

    Santa Fe

    Rent share 23.9% · Price level 98.8 · Score 0.471

    Median rent is $1,463 a month and median income is $73,482, so rent is 23.9% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Santa Fe, NM metro price level is 98.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #42 in New Mexico · National #2851

    Belen

    Rent share 25.8% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.429

    Median rent is $916 a month and median income is $42,627, so rent is 25.8% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #41 in New Mexico · National #2582

    Silver City

    Rent share 26.8% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.410

    Median rent is $866 a month and median income is $38,711, so rent is 26.8% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #40 in New Mexico · National #2421

    Taos

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.398

    Median rent is $883 a month and median income is $47,304, so rent is 22.4% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #39 in New Mexico · National #2198

    Truth or Consequences

    Rent share 25.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.385

    Median rent is $714 a month and median income is $33,788, so rent is 25.4% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #38 in New Mexico · National #2091

    Santa Teresa

    Rent share 25.8% · Price level 90.2 · Score 0.377

    Median rent is $1,356 a month and median income is $63,161, so rent is 25.8% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Las Cruces, NM metro price level is 90.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #37 in New Mexico · National #2065

    Los Lunas

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.375

    Median rent is $1,110 a month and median income is $62,330, so rent is 21.4% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #36 in New Mexico · National #1963

    Tucumcari

    Rent share 26.5% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.368

    Median rent is $704 a month and median income is $31,844, so rent is 26.5% of income, over the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The New Mexico state price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #35 in New Mexico · National #1814

    Rio Rancho

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.358

    Median rent is $1,514 a month and median income is $89,596, so rent is 20.3% of income, under the 20.5% median for ranked towns in New Mexico. The Albuquerque, NM metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 16.09 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in New Mexico in this index?

Zuni Pueblo is number 1 of 44 ranked towns in New Mexico. Median rent is 15.4% of median income. Its national rank is 208.

How many towns in New Mexico were ranked?

44 towns in New Mexico have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in New Mexico?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.