What are the schools like in Bernalillo, NM?

Bernalillo is served primarily by BERNALILLO. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1.

What is the median household income in Bernalillo?

The median household income in Bernalillo, NM is $57,905 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Bernalillo, NM?

Bernalillo has an average high temperature of 47.4°F in January and 93.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 10.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.3 inches.

Bernalillo, NM Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bernalillo, NM affordable or expensive?

Bernalillo's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bernalillo is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $213,000 and the median rent is $967 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bernalillo, NM?

Bernalillo has a violent crime rate of 481.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1312.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bernalillo, NM a Good Place to Live?

Bernalillo is a small town of 9,286 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $57,905 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Bernalillo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bernalillo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bernalillo 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

Bernalillo's overall cost of living index is 93.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bernalillo costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bernalillo, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$213,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$967	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,905	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Bernalillo's violent crime rate is 481.2 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

481.2 /100k

Property Crime

1312.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bernalillo is served primarily by BERNALILLO. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bernalillo, NM	National Avg
School District	BERNALILLO	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bernalillo sees average highs of 47.4°F in January and 93.6°F in July, with 10.8 inches of annual precipitation and 9.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bernalillo, NM
Average High — January	47.4°F
Average High — July	93.6°F
Annual Precipitation	10.8"
Annual Snowfall	9.3"

Demographics

Metric	Bernalillo, NM	National Avg
Population	9,286	—
Median Age	43.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	58.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	33.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	14.7%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 4 mi Pueblo of Sandia Village, NM 4 mi Algodones, NM 5 mi Placitas CDP (Sandoval County), NM 6 mi Corrales, NM 6 mi

Bernalillo vs Other Cities

Bernalillo, NM vs Santa Ana Pueblo, NM Bernalillo, NM vs Pueblo of Sandia Village, NM Bernalillo, NM vs Algodones, NM Bernalillo, NM vs Placitas CDP (Sandoval County), NM Bernalillo, NM vs Corrales, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bernalillo, NM affordable or expensive?

Bernalillo's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bernalillo roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $213,000 and median rent is $967/month.

What is the crime rate in Bernalillo, NM?

Bernalillo's violent crime rate is 481.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1312.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bernalillo?

Public schools in Bernalillo are operated by BERNALILLO. The district has 5 elementary, 4 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bernalillo, NM a good place to live?

Bernalillo, NM has a population of 9,286, a median household income of $57,905, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Bernalillo?

Bernalillo averages 47.4°F in January and 93.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.8 inches with about 9.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Bernalillo?

The population of Bernalillo, New Mexico is 9,286 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bernalillo?

Key numbers for living in Bernalillo: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $213,000, median household income $57,905, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bernalillo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.