Best counties to raise a family in New Mexico
Best counties to raise a family in New Mexico
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in New Mexico using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Sierra County
- Niche grades: good for families (C-), public schools (C+), cost of living (B-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 11,511
- Median household income: $37,840
- Median home value: $144,800
- Top places to live: Truth or Consequences (B-), Elephant Butte (C+), Williamsburg (C+)
#24. San Miguel County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 27,036
- Median household income: $47,400
- Median home value: $177,600
- Top places to live: Las Vegas (B-), Pecos (C+), East Pecos (C)
#23. McKinley County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 71,172
- Median household income: $44,496
- Median home value: $72,100
- Top places to live: Gallup (B-), Zuni Pueblo (C-), Church Rock (C-)
#22. Luna County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 25,420
- Median household income: $37,917
- Median home value: $112,500
- Top places to live: Deming (C+), Sunshine (C+), Columbus (C-)
#21. Cibola County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 27,059
- Median household income: $51,765
- Median home value: $120,000
- Top places to live: Milan (C+), Grants (C+), North Acomita Village (C+)
#20. Socorro County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 16,308
- Median household income: $47,556
- Median home value: $143,200
- Top places to live: Socorro (B), Magdalena (B-), Lemitar (C+)
#19. Torrance County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 15,290
- Median household income: $46,250
- Median home value: $145,100
- Top places to live: Mountainair (B-), Estancia (B-), Willard (C+)
#18. Taos County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 34,516
- Median household income: $58,908
- Median home value: $354,000
- Top places to live: Ranchos de Taos (B), Taos (B-), Talpa (C+)
#17. Grant County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 27,856
- Median household income: $45,921
- Median home value: $164,400
- Top places to live: Silver City (B), Bayard (B-), Santa Clara (B-)
#16. San Juan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 121,178
- Median household income: $53,020
- Median home value: $185,100
- Top places to live: Farmington (B), Lee Acres (B-), Bloomfield (B-)
#15. Lea County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 73,154
- Median household income: $68,750
- Median home value: $176,000
- Top places to live: Hobbs (B-), Lovington (B-), Eunice (C)
#14. Quay County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 8,616
- Median household income: $43,698
- Median home value: $82,200
- Top places to live: Tucumcari (B), San Jon (B+), Logan (C)
#13. Valencia County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 77,382
- Median household income: $58,333
- Median home value: $206,800
- Top places to live: Los Chaves (B+), Valencia (B), Bosque Farms (B)
#12. Doña Ana County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 221,665
- Median household income: $55,663
- Median home value: $205,400
- Top places to live: Mesilla (A-), Las Cruces (B+), Santa Teresa (B)
#11. Curry County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 47,932
- Median household income: $56,259
- Median home value: $160,800
- Top places to live: Clovis (B-), Texico (B+), Melrose (B-)
#10. Sandoval County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 151,538
- Median household income: $84,053
- Median home value: $282,300
- Top places to live: Corrales (A), Rio Rancho (A-), Placitas (B+)
#9. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 20,227
- Median household income: $51,643
- Median home value: $212,200
- Top places to live: Ruidoso (B), Ruidoso Downs (B-), Capitan (B+)
#8. Otero County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 68,235
- Median household income: $52,717
- Median home value: $149,500
- Top places to live: Alamogordo (B), La Luz (B), Boles Acres (B-)
#7. Chaves County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 64,446
- Median household income: $52,029
- Median home value: $141,900
- Top places to live: Roswell (B-), Hagerman (B-), Dexter (C+)
#6. Colfax County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 12,336
- Median household income: $52,690
- Median home value: $161,000
- Top places to live: Raton (B-), Cimarron (B), Springer (B)
#5. Santa Fe County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (D+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 155,175
- Median household income: $74,689
- Median home value: $416,900
- Top places to live: Edgewood (A-), Pojoaque (B+), Eldorado at Santa Fe (B+)
#4. Roosevelt County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 19,002
- Median household income: $52,445
- Median home value: $136,000
- Top places to live: Portales (B), Elida (B-), Floyd (C-)
#3. Bernalillo County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 674,357
- Median household income: $66,514
- Median home value: $268,500
- Top places to live: Nob Hill (A+), Sandia Heights (A+), Eastside (A)
#2. Eddy County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 61,114
- Median household income: $79,605
- Median home value: $199,400
- Top places to live: Artesia (B+), Carlsbad (B), Atoka (B-)
#1. Los Alamos County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 19,374
- Median household income: $143,188
- Median home value: $452,500
- Top places to live: Los Alamos (A+), White Rock (A+)
