Belen 63 Average
Belen Livability #74 ranked city in New Mexico#14,971 ranked city in the USARanks better than 48% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Belen

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

What's it like Living in Belen?

Belen is a small-sized city located in the state of New Mexico. The city has a population of 7,771 inhabitants. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (73% White). Given that fact, Belen could be considered less diverse than other cities. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Belen are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 31% of the population also speak Spanish. Belen is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 38% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Belen, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 23 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Belen is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before moving to any new city in New Mexico, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Belen and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, commute, health & safety and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 63/100, Belen is ranked #13,966 in the United States and #71 in New Mexico. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Belen scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A) There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Belen. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Belen has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Belen is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Belen come in at $184,410, which is 34.9% lower than the New Mexico average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Belen, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 16.7% lower than the New Mexico average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Belen

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Belen?

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Compare Belen, NM Livability

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      Belen transportation information

      Statistic Belen New Mexico National
      Average one way commute23min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.5%79.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.4%10.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%1.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.7%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.0%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home4.7%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The Belen, NM data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.