The Town FilesAlbuquerque, New Mexico
City in Bernalillo County · population 564,559 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $291,500
- Household income
- $68,317
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.8
Albuquerque is a city of 564,559 people in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $291,500, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more walkable than 100% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 100% of New Mexico towns, better transit than 95% of New Mexico towns.
How Albuquerque ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Albuquerque is worth $291,500, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $68,317, which is more affordable than 22% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,145 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albuquerque | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $291,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,145 | $916 |
| Median household income | $68,317 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Albuquerque
| People | Albuquerque | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in Albuquerque
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 9.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 91 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albuquerque since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 31, 1965 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 15, 1969.
Severe weather in Bernalillo County since 1996
Bernalillo County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2016 | Fire | FM-5127: Dog Head Fire |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2880: White Fire |
Jobs and pay in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County had 347,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,493 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Albuquerque itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Albuquerque
198 public schools with 84,309 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOLCANO VISTA HIGH | 9-12 | 2,177 | 17.1 |
| ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY HS | 9-12 | 2,055 | 15.5 |
| LA CUEVA HIGH | 9-12 | 1,831 | 18.7 |
| ALBUQUERQUE HIGH | 9-12 | 1,683 | 16.3 |
| SANDIA HIGH | 9-12 | 1,672 | 16.2 |
| CIBOLA HIGH | 9-12 | 1,622 | 17.6 |
| WEST MESA HIGH | 9-12 | 1,612 | 15.4 |
| ELDORADO HIGH | PK-12 | 1,608 | 16.4 |
| RIO GRANDE HIGH | 9-12 | 1,500 | 14.7 |
| EXPLORE ACADEMY (charter) | K-12 | 1,354 | 13.1 |
| MANZANO HIGH | PK-12 | 1,217 | 14.0 |
| HIGHLAND HIGH | 9-12 | 1,169 | 14.4 |
Towns near Albuquerque
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM4.0 mi · 5,874 people · home $492,400
- North Valley, NM4.9 mi · 11,149 people · home $302,700
- Kirtland AFB, NM6.2 mi · 3,838 people · home —
- South Valley, NM6.9 mi · 38,338 people · home $224,300
- Paradise Hills, NM7.2 mi · 4,329 people · home $254,600
- Corrales, NM9.4 mi · 8,493 people · home $571,500
- Sandia Heights, NM10.2 mi · 3,273 people · home $670,100
- Rio Rancho, NM12.8 mi · 104,046 people · home $310,200
Albuquerque questions
Is Albuquerque, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albuquerque scores better for retirees than 18% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 3%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Albuquerque?
The median owner-occupied home in Albuquerque is valued at $291,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,317, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,145 a month.
What is the weather like in Albuquerque?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Albuquerque get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albuquerque since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 31, 1965. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)