The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Albuquerque For 2022


We used data and science to identify the neighborhoods in Albuquerque that are the real pits.

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Albuquerque's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in Albuquerque.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Albuquerque. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.

So the question arises, which Albuquerque neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?

Today, we'll use science and data to determine which Albuquerque hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the Albuquerque area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Peppertree-Royal Oak ranks way above the rest.

We examined 206 of Albuquerque's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Albuquerque's reputation.

So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Albuquerque for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Yale Village looks to be the worst neighborhood in Albuquerque.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Albuquerque that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.

Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Albuquerque.

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

Worst Neighborhoods In Albuquerque

The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Albuquerque For 2022

Yale Village must be filled with a bunch of geniuses, right? Maybe not Harvard Village-levels of accomplishment, but still extremely impressive.

Maybe, maybe not. The people of this Yale Village, located in the southeastern part of the city, may very well have high IQs. But they aren't benefiting from the kinds of careers you'd expect in that Yale/Harvard strata. In fact, quite the opposite. The median income comes in at just $23,727.

Beyond the financial troubles, Yale Village falls short on many amenities. Located relatively far from the center of town, residents usually have to head out of the neighborhood to fill certain needs.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 79
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $85,900 (8th worst)
Median Income: $23,727 (10th worst)
More on Yale Village:  Data

Barelas sits along the Rio Grande River, south of the downtown area. Head a little north along Tingley Dr. and you'll get to the Albuquerque Zoo. However, a quick trip east will drop you into the Albuquerque Rail Yards. That's probably a better indication of the vibe of the neighborhood.

Ultimately, Barelas lands on this list as the number 2 worst area in Albuquerque for 2022 because of its economy. The unemployment rate is elevated at 6.9%. Residents also have trouble with the cost of living. The median home value only hits $127,900, not a huge price tag in most markets. However, when the local median income only reaches $28,163, this becomes a difficult mortgage to manage.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,516
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $127,900 (32nd worst)
Median Income: $28,163 (14th worst)
More on Barelas:  Data

Desert View might make a better name. But now we're just nitpicking. The general point holds: this is way out of town. Mountain View sits at the southern tip of Albuquerque, down along I-25. You can find the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in the middle of the neighborhood.

If you like the isolation, this serves as the perfect home for you. However, if you want easy access to the amenities of city life, Mountain View will seem like a pain. You also might have trouble finding a job. The economy in the area leaves a lot to be desired, with an unemployment rate of 9.2% and a median income below $40,000.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,151
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $125,967 (3worst)
Median Income: $36,114 (40th worst)
More on Mountain View:  Data

From just the name, Wildflower sounds like an excellent location. Like living in a unkempt garden, or in a hippie commune. In real life, though, this ranks as the number 4 worst neighborhood in Albuquerque for 2022.

What makes it so difficult to live here? The economy, for one thing. The median income sits at $35,179 and the unemployment rate comes in at 5.8%. There are other problems as well. Wildflower is located on the far northern end of town, far away from the heart of the city and all its related attractions.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 690
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $91,700 (10th worst)
Median Income: $35,179 (34th worst)
More on Wildflower:  Data

If you like bike riding, you might find yourself peddling through Alta Monta. You can enjoy the North Channel Trail, which runs along the North Diversion Channel. It passes along the edge of the neighborhood, skimming the edge of Comanche South Park.

Feel free to bike on through. But you probably won't be tempted to stop. The main issues come from the severe low wages in the area. The unemployment rate isn't terrible at 5.4%. However, that doesn't provide much solace when the median income only touches $22,486.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,776
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $5,000 (worst)
Median Income: $22,486 (5th worst)
More on Alta Monte:  Data

Albuquerque calls its airport a "Sunport." That's adorable. Following a similar pattern, Seattle should rename its aviation hub the "Rainport," while L.A. might consider something like "Celebrityport."

But giving something a cute name doesn't make the underlying location more appealing. An airport is an airport, complete with traffic noise and all the other detriments that come with giant jets constantly coming and going.

Which brings us to Kirtland Community, located just north of the Sunport, along I-25. Along with its unfortunate neighbor, residents also have to deal with a sluggish economy and a lack of amenities.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,340
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 4)
Median Home Value: $106,167 (16th worst)
Median Income: $32,250 (23rd worst)
More on Kirtland Community:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 199
Rank Last Year: -
Median Home Value: $21,600 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $53,990 (105th worst)
More on Albuquerque Meadows:  Data

Quail Ridge is a tiny, square-shaped neighborhood on the far east side of the city. A short drive will take you to the I-40 and off into the wilderness. In fact, a 20-minute drive north will take you to Cibola National Forest.

This easy access to great outdoors could provide a potential selling point. But that depends on your point of view. You might not feel that way if you moved to a city for excitement and easy access to shops, restaurants, and bars. Those are hard to find in Quail Ridge.

This lack of commercial infrastructure also limits the job prospects. That helps explain the high unemployment rate and a median income barely above $30,000.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 150
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $144,600 (49th worst)
Median Income: $32,472 (24th worst)
More on Quail Ridge:  Data

A large chunk of Clayton Heights-Lomas Del Cielo is given over to colleges. You'll find the University Of New Mexico Student Support And Services Center, as well as the CNM Main Campus Student Services Center, part of a local community college.

You'll also find a lot of sports-related venues. There's the The Pit, which hosts the University of New Mexico basketball team, as well as the college's football stadium. You can even check out some minor league baseball, with the Albuquerque Isotopes playing in the neighborhood.

But, in the end, we're talking students, amateur athletics and minor league baseball. Not many big salaries there. However, they fit right in in a neighborhood with a median income of $36,512.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 980
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $116,300 (24th worst)
Median Income: $36,512 (42nd worst)
More on Clayton Heights-Lomas Del Cielo:  Data

San Jose occupies a strip of land between the Rio Grande River and the Albuquerque airport. Oh, sorry...we mean Sunport. How close to the Sunport? Well, the eastern border of the neighborhood is defined by the Pan American Freeway, named after an airline that went out of business in 1991.

We've already covered the downside of living near the airport. Not an ideal situation, to say the least. Meanwhile, the residents of San Jose struggle with serious financial headaches. The median income sits at $28,912 and the unemployment rate reaches 7.6%.

There are some bright spots, though. For instance, you can hit the links at the University of New Mexico: Golf Course Championship.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,843
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $103,733 (13th worst)
Median Income: $28,912 (15th worst)
More on San Jose:  Data

Methodology: How we determined the worst Albuquerque neighborhoods in 2022

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Albuquerque:

  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one's willing to pay to live here)
  • High crime (Estimated)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a "Worst Score".

The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Albuquerque.

Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Albuquerque to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 206 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.

Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Albuquerque

Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Albuquerque with Yale Village landing at the bottom of the pack.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Albuquerque aren't all bad. Peppertree-Royal Oak takes the cake as the best place to live in Albuquerque.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Albuquerque For 2022?

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Yale Village 79 $85,900 $23,727
2 Barelas 2,516 $127,900 $28,163
3 Mountain View 2,151 $125,967 $36,114
4 Wildflower 690 $91,700 $35,179
5 Alta Monte 1,776 $5,000 $22,486
6 Kirtland Community 1,340 $106,167 $32,250
7 Albuquerque Meadows 199 $21,600 $53,990
8 Quail Ridge 150 $144,600 $32,472
9 Clayton Heights-Lomas Del Cielo 980 $116,300 $36,512
10 San Jose 2,843 $103,733 $28,912
11 Encanto Village 195 $145,500 $47,483
12 Skyview West 1,014 $110,500 $40,082
13 South Atrisco 1,483 $140,100 $41,187
14 Alamosa 4,287 $101,725 $32,674
15 Trumbull Village 8,246 $55,670 $20,285
16 La Mesa 7,610 $122,383 $21,085
17 Santa Barbara 2,263 $148,325 $28,137
18 Los Volcanes 3,510 $76,500 $23,260
19 Greater Gardner 373 $106,250 $31,649
20 Vista Sandia Hoa 518 $130,400 $42,647
21 South Los Altos 2,541 $104,425 $36,935
22 Crestview Bluff 1,685 $129,950 $30,093
23 Los Alamos 272 $169,900 $26,481
24 South San Pedro 6,643 $87,950 $20,397
25 Villa De Paza 262 $118,600 $36,863
26 Riverview Heights 109 $145,200 $35,920
27 Singing Arrow 3,324 $60,400 $34,034
28 Silver Hill 2,089 $132,075 $23,301
29 Martineztown 259 $128,200 $23,646
30 Vista Magnifica 162 $145,200 $35,920
31 Plaza Vieja 324 $170,000 $37,639
32 West Mesa 5,680 $129,517 $35,280
33 West Old Town 1,750 $185,233 $30,690
34 Los Jardines 73 $248,400 $17,344
35 Victory Hills 2,657 $165,233 $45,917
36 Wells Park 1,751 $168,175 $45,467
37 San Antonio 37 $108,700 $37,109
38 North Hills 309 $132,500 $32,766
39 Grande Hts 194 $161,000 $48,382
40 South Broadway 3,410 $105,000 $32,793
41 Stronghurst 106 $154,200 $40,486
42 Palomas Park 343 $132,500 $32,766
43 Jackson Area 1,352 $151,000 $58,290
44 Raynolds 1,410 $218,567 $30,740
45 Near N Valley 5,616 $197,114 $36,146
46 Stinson Tower 1,433 $145,500 $47,483
47 Mark Twain 1,553 $199,500 $51,979
48 Chelwood Vista 1,895 $156,300 $29,841
49 Uptown 3,636 $142,311 $44,423
50 Elder Homestead 1,990 $133,800 $41,607
51 Huning Highland Historic District 918 $167,900 $32,736
52 Del Rey R 225 $108,700 $37,109
53 Monkbridge Gardens 1,913 $83,950 $30,153
54 Del Norte 6,766 $177,250 $42,082
55 Fair Heights 806 $181,950 $43,201
56 Downtown 3,621 $197,950 $38,143
57 North Eastern 3,234 $115,367 $38,653
58 Highlands North 400 $200,050 $51,942
59 University Hts 2,105 $192,500 $23,493
60 Winrock South 228 $182,300 $33,352
61 Boyds-Leslie Park 514 $215,300 $38,384
62 Four Hills Mhp 1,574 $40,733 $49,886
63 Princess Jeanne 2,732 $140,060 $42,729
64 Bel-Air 1,942 $134,900 $50,111
65 Avalon 3,178 $144,900 $41,875
66 West Bluff 1,882 $161,000 $48,382
67 Zuni 703 $167,600 $57,417
68 Mckinley 3,058 $128,075 $38,592
69 Vista Montecito 107 $214,400 $66,696
70 Laurelwood 2,439 $180,500 $47,394
71 Jade Park 879 $117,900 $51,449
72 Northeast Valley 1,517 $250,950 $58,598
73 Conchas Park 1,392 $144,800 $41,181
74 Westgate Vecinos 16,748 $122,790 $43,724
75 Eastrange-Piedra Vista 321 $203,200 $47,674
76 Montgomery Park 1,099 $172,750 $42,034
77 Montgomery Heights 621 $220,000 $30,365
78 Valley Gardens 2,270 $142,600 $51,634
79 Academy Ridge East 1,047 $161,833 $66,410
80 Matheson Park 1,573 $156,700 $49,856
81 Cottonwood Heights 1,200 $180,100 $51,473
82 Route 66 West 5,072 $123,100 $45,919
83 Fair West 2,160 $149,800 $36,981
84 Enchanted Park 1,799 $187,500 $46,905
85 Jeanne Bellamah East 1,427 $141,150 $35,678
86 Alvarado Park 1,464 $165,400 $43,884
87 Vecinos Del Bosque 2,782 $113,367 $33,811
88 San Gabriel 1,407 $233,300 $57,243
89 Quaker Heights 991 $195,000 $67,347
90 Sycamore 1,017 $244,450 $35,357
91 Sombra Del Monte 929 $188,200 $55,910
92 Story Rock 261 $227,200 $78,049
93 Richland Hills 323 $266,900 $91,250
94 Broadway Central 900 $239,600 $27,888
95 Jerry Cline Park 1,021 $195,150 $33,551
96 Sawmill 985 $185,150 $40,432
97 Inez 731 $161,100 $55,108
98 Westgate Hts 29,348 $119,350 $44,916
99 Painted Sky 554 $161,100 $68,476
100 Ladera West 3,875 $101,367 $53,290
101 Academy Acres North 5,415 $199,000 $52,091
102 Loma Del Rey 2,383 $211,700 $62,320
103 Indian Moon 1,136 $192,200 $54,664
104 Towne Park 608 $161,900 $47,379
105 Arroyo Del Oso North 407 $354,700 $54,313
106 Quigley Park 1,186 $157,000 $60,875
107 La Luz De Sol 740 $227,200 $78,049
108 Crestview Heights 136 $226,900 $64,063
109 Skyview Acres 260 $287,800 $36,676
110 Bosque Dell Acres 267 $287,800 $36,676
111 Desert Spring Flower 3,738 $110,000 $42,826
112 Supper Rock 3,277 $252,600 $63,484
113 N Campus 1,513 $272,700 $54,272
114 Huning Castle 925 $282,750 $58,536
115 La Sala Grande 339 $239,400 $40,000
116 South Guadalupe Trail 407 $244,500 $54,133
117 Skies West 3,118 $180,000 $57,738
118 Las Lomitas 491 $215,500 $82,578
119 Hodgin 3,097 $151,700 $49,280
120 West Park 456 $260,000 $59,294
121 Tijeras Arroyo 3,843 $134,325 $63,296
122 Pat Hurley 1,945 $161,700 $44,375
123 Rio Grande Blvd 2,495 $287,971 $59,642
124 Cielito Lindo 1,169 $229,200 $78,641
125 Coors Trail 285 $282,900 $70,625
126 Las Terrazas 147 $208,200 $76,434
127 Snow Heights 2,086 $178,800 $68,728
128 Parkland Hills 2,494 $219,833 $48,062
129 Academy Park 92 $213,900 $80,703
130 Vista Del Norte 2,616 $252,200 $72,835
131 Spruce Park 598 $329,200 $53,125
132 Eisenhower 1,793 $181,650 $59,187
133 Campus 218 $285,500 $133,092
134 Big Bend 85 $221,700 $60,750
135 Academy North 181 $209,900 $92,818
136 Highland 2,488 $244,900 $37,576
137 Candelmen 1,636 $157,400 $43,125
138 Stardust Skies North 291 $255,400 $50,764
139 Riverfronte 419 $1,215,900 $56,538
140 Holiday Park 2,839 $210,700 $73,307
141 Taylor Ranch 19,686 $201,386 $64,806
142 Mossman 660 $198,700 $70,550
143 Sandia Ridge 1,081 $259,550 $66,120
144 North Domingo Baca 1,537 $229,600 $88,784
145 Nob Hill 4,325 $265,667 $48,226
146 Netherwood Park 1,012 $273,450 $46,404
147 Osuna Park 2,254 $222,300 $66,418
148 Willow Wood 742 $215,700 $55,662
149 Se Heights 3,667 $259,450 $54,873
150 La Luz 106 $325,800 $76,319
151 Glenwood Hills South Casa Grande 1,074 $337,300 $88,916
152 Ventana Ranch 9,551 $192,820 $71,673
153 Classic Uptown 1,571 $219,050 $58,488
154 Vista Grande 290 $325,800 $76,319
155 Sr Marmon 3,470 $166,750 $62,908
156 Matthew Meadows 334 $328,400 $60,714
157 Summit Park 2,121 $265,150 $75,553
158 Eagle Ranch 1,707 $240,650 $78,973
159 Academy Estates East 1,146 $271,325 $58,144
160 Cibola Addition 1,162 $265,700 $85,596
161 Alvarado Grdns 698 $359,800 $91,989
162 Alameda N Valley 13,990 $295,250 $62,075
163 Piedras Marcadas 1,164 $244,650 $80,750
164 Alban Hills 4,372 $228,500 $73,522
165 Onate 1,515 $226,900 $64,063
166 Lee Acres 206 $275,000 $70,238
167 North Wyoming 4,763 $199,050 $49,992
168 Eldorado Heights 3,104 $217,750 $51,533
169 Thomas Village 650 $359,800 $91,989
170 S Y Jackson 2,751 $228,900 $68,514
171 Four Hills Village 2,111 $302,333 $84,961
172 Gavilan 107 $275,000 $70,238
173 John Robert 2,159 $253,650 $89,548
174 Saragossa 354 $244,400 $102,361
175 Volcano Cliffs 2,480 $210,175 $69,148
176 Prospectors Ridge 1,044 $254,800 $64,958
177 Embudo Canyon 2,690 $283,300 $103,520
178 Paradise Heights 494 $244,400 $102,361
179 Siesta Hills 297 $311,900 $100,833
180 Sandia 1,814 $249,100 $65,650
181 Parkway 3,174 $179,200 $78,568
182 Tierra Oeste 3,279 $215,500 $82,578
183 Kachina Hills 362 $268,400 $97,046
184 Cherry Hills 168 $274,400 $109,250
185 Rancho Sereno 1,935 $263,400 $99,974
186 Academy Hills Park 2,882 $278,575 $72,429
187 Nor Este 4,323 $385,267 $106,394
188 Paradise Hills 28,891 $259,647 $72,005
189 Tuscany 1,809 $184,700 $76,693
190 Glenwood Hills 651 $368,000 $110,446
191 Los Poblanos 799 $275,000 $70,238
192 Stardust Skies Park 980 $264,350 $78,829
193 Mirabella 1,974 $198,300 $69,602
194 Heritage Hills 2,283 $217,900 $84,835
195 Estates At Tanoan 69 $546,000 $122,917
196 Antelope Run 979 $363,900 $82,679
197 Bear Canyon 1,783 $243,750 $81,746
198 Vineyard Estates 916 $416,100 $139,191
199 Quintessance 644 $366,000 $94,750
200 Seven Bar North 1,252 $244,400 $102,361
201 N Albuquerque Acres 8,261 $488,671 $117,682
202 Vista Del Mundo 910 $374,200 $137,800
203 Tanoan 1,302 $386,500 $91,818
204 Tanoan East 1,398 $454,950 $102,798
205 Heritage East 2,805 $315,700 $107,311
206 Peppertree-Royal Oak 1,448 $377,300 $116,382

Editor's Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don't freak out we updated this article for 2022. This is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Albuquerque.

About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.