Albuquerque, New Mexico skyline · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0Sandia Peak Tramway Car by Anna Cummings Photography · AnnaCummingsPhotography / CC BY-SA 4.0Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Building · Asaavedra32 / CC BY-SA 3.0San Felipe de Neri Church-Albuquerque · Atomic City505 / Public domain
Albuquerque is a large city of 562,551 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $61,503
and a 5.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Albuquerque stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Albuquerque is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Albuquerque city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.0
Albuquerque's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Albuquerque costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Albuquerque, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$246,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,014
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,503
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Albuquerque's violent crime rate is 1181.8 per 100,000 residents
— 211% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1181.8 /100k
Property Crime
4628.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Albuquerque is served primarily by ALBUQUERQUE.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Albuquerque, NM
National Avg
School District
ALBUQUERQUE
—
Elementary Schools
99
—
Middle Schools
29
—
High Schools
38
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
37.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Albuquerque sees average highs of 51.9°F in January
and 94.9°F in July,
with 10.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.9 inches of snow per year.
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Albuquerque roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $246,000 and median rent is $1,014/month.
Albuquerque's violent crime rate is 1181.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4628.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Albuquerque are operated by ALBUQUERQUE.
The district has 99 elementary, 29 middle, and 38 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 37.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Albuquerque, NM has a population of 562,551, a median household income of $61,503, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Albuquerque averages 51.9°F in January and 94.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.3 inches
with about 7.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Albuquerque, NM is covered by 14 ZIP codes: 87120, 87106, 87111, 87114, 87123, 87109, 87110, 87107, 87112, 87102, 87113, 87108, 87104, 87101.
The population of Albuquerque, New Mexico is 562,551 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Albuquerque: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $246,000, median household income $61,503, crime index 275 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Albuquerque side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
