What it's like to live in Los Lunas
Los Lunas is a small city in New Mexico with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Los Lunas deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Hot summers
How Los Lunas compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Los Lunas
Based on Los Lunas's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,220
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,400 a year
- 53% of Los Lunas renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,290
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,110/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,110 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $262,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $262,900 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Valencia County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Valencia County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 49% above US
491 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1988/100k · Los Lunas Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 28% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Petroglyph National Monument (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Los Lunas's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,110/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Los Lunas
All New Mexico guides →Moving to South Valley →
16 mi away · pop. 37,120
Rent $954/mo · Income $58,224
Compare with Los Lunas →Moving to Albuquerque →
22 mi away · pop. 562,218
Rent $1,145/mo · Income $68,317
Compare with Los Lunas →Not sure Los Lunas is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.