6 Safest Small Communities To Settle In New Mexico

When it comes to safe states to settle down, some might balk at New Mexico, as it has a higher statewide crime rate than other states in the U.S. However, there are many small towns and communities in New Mexico that buck the trend. Within these small communities, one can enjoy a peaceful life while exploring historic ranches, adobe-style churches, or sampling locally grown hot peppers and produce. One of these safe towns was the site of the Manhattan Project that designed the atomic bomb, and today offers many fascinating museums and places to learn about this climactic historical event. Read on to learn more about these 6 safest small communities to settle in New Mexico.

Cimarron

Sitting within the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northeastern New Mexico is the quaint town of Cimarron. The town sits within a sea of ranches, giving it a Wild West feel, without the danger, as there have been no reported homicides there in the past five years and no aggravated assaults since 2023. Some might say it's the quiet West out here, but there's still plenty to do in Cimarron, such as fishing at the Cimarron Canyon State Park or hiking at the Valle Vidal Unit of the Kit Carson National Forest, which is just a few miles out of town. This unit features the more than 12,000-foot-high Little Costilla Peak for determined hikers. As mentioned above, you can also visit a few of the ranches in Cimarron, such as the 1869 Chase Ranch, or experience a little pioneer living at the living history Kit Carson Museum at Rayado in nearby Philmont.

Corrales

If you want to be close to the big city while still enjoying a small town atmosphere, then Corrales is the place for you. This village is a part of the Albuquerque metro area and was founded by Spanish colonists in 1540. Despite its close proximity to Albuquerque, its rate of aggravated assaults and other violent crimes is well below the state average and typically below the national average. By strolling the streets of Corrales, one will be enraptured by historic adobe structures such as the 1868 San Ysidro Church or Casa San Ysidro, a restoration of an 1870s adobe house. Corrales is also home to a rich art scene, from Sage Valley Pottery to Robert Benjamin's New Mexico Landscape Paintings, for anyone to visit and enjoy.

Anthony

Located on the New Mexico-Texas state line is the small town of Anthony. Unlike many places, Anthony is a relatively new community, as it voted to incorporate in 2010, although its history goes back further. The name itself comes from the chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, which was built by a Mexican-American woman in the early 1880s. The community takes its safety seriously and has had no homicides reported since 2023, and an aggravated assault level lower than the state average. Due to its close proximity to Anthony, Texas, there are plenty of fun activities in and around Anthony, New Mexico. Golfers can go to the Anthony Country Club, while spicy food lovers can pick up locally grown peppers from Seco Spice. On the Texas side of the border, one can enjoy waterslides at Wet 'N' Wild Waterworld or escape into nature via the Franklin Mountains State Park, which happens to contain the only tin mines in the U.S., which is now a historic landmark called the El Paso Tin Mines.

Lovington

This southeastern town in Lea County prides itself on its progressive values, friendly neighbors, and low crime. In fact, it hasn't had any reported incidents of aggravated assaults or homicides since 2022. It was founded in 1908 by settlers moving from Texas into the New Mexico Territory. Around 11,000 people call this town home, and they lovingly maintain several parks for residents and visitors alike, such as Chaparral Park, which has a small lake for fishing and playgrounds, and the Harold Runnels Softball Complex. Lovington also has a beautiful downtown area, complete with a classic event center called Lea Theatre and several cute local businesses, ranging from Panekes bakery to the Ranch House Restaurant. Lovington also maintains the Lea County Museum, which tells the story of how the town was founded and grew.

Clayton

The area around Clayton was first visited by the Spanish in the 1500s, but white settlers wouldn't arrive until the 1820s when the Sante Fe Trail was established. It became a major cattle wrangling center and got its own saloon in 1892, which would later become Hotel Eklund. In 1901, the famed outlaw Black Jack Ketchum was captured after trying to hold up a train and was hanged here in Clayton. The rope was too long, however, and ended up tearing his head off his body. Today, you can visit Thomas Black Jack Ketchum's Grave, but you don't have to worry about too many outlaws, as there have been no reported homicides in the last five years. Other than the historic hotel and grave, you can also go golfing at the Clayton Golf Club or purchase locally grown produce and meat from the Clayton Ranch Market.

Los Alamos

Los Alamos is sometimes called the Atomic City as it was utilized by the Manhattan Project to craft the atomic bomb during World War II. Don't let the nickname fool you, as this town is a safe place to settle, with an aggravated assault level well below the state and national level and no homicides reported since 2023. You can learn a lot in Los Alamos at the Bradbury Science Museum, which gives the rundown on the Manhattan Project, and the Los Alamos History Museum, which traces Los Alamos' history from the Pueblo people to the modern day. This museum also includes the Oppenheimer House, where the designer of the atom bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer lived. Visitors and residents alike can also experience fun science exhibits or go bird watching via the Los Alamos Nature Center.

The Quiet West

Many of these safe communities have Wild West attractions, while keeping a quiet, safe vibe that certainly wasn't present in the old days. Residents can wander where the cowboys wrangled cattle in Cimarron, venture out into the mountains close to Anthony, or pay their respects to a famed outlaw in Clayton. These safe communities also provide rich cultural experiences from the museums of Los Alamos to the many art galleries of Corrales. If you're looking for a safe community to settle, keep these six towns on your list.