Albuquerque receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Los Lunas
Albuquerque
Opportunity
28 · Bottom 5%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
73 · Top 13%
vs47 · Bottom 44%
Climate
71 · Top 45%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
9 · Bottom 4%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 47%
vs81 · Top 50%
Access
89 · Bottom 38%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 11%
vs53 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Los Lunas | Albuquerque | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,618 | 562,218 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,330 | $68,317 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,070 | $40,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 914/sq mi | 3,002/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $262,900 | $291,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,110 | $1,145 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.0% | 61.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.6% | -3.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 39.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 15.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 271 | 1,524 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.6 | 2.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.9% | 17.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 8.8" | 8.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 149 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.10 | 12.60 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 100.0% | 89.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Los Lunas
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Albuquerque
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Los Lunas
55
Your Score
49
Area Score
Albuquerque
65
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Los Lunas, NM · Albuquerque, NM · How this is calculated: methodology