Secluded mountain town centered around nuclear science
Secluded in the Jemez Mountains, 33 miles from Santa Fe, Los Alamos is a small town best known as the site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where the first atomic weapons were invented in the 1940s. Today, LANL is New Mexico’s top employer and Los Alamos' biggest draw — though not its only one. “Many come here because they get a job at the laboratory," says Los Alamos Councilmember Suzie Havemann, "but the amenities, the mountains, the schools and the nice people are what get them to stay.” Residents enjoy access to millions of acres of open space, from national forests to volcanic calderas. Los Alamos County’s public schools are top-rated, and year-round events foster a sense of community. “The people here are active and intellectually curious,” Havemann says. “No matter if you’re wanting to prepare for a triathlon, learn quilt-making or do theater, you will find a club of people here who want the same thing.”
Los Alamos is a great get away for nature lovers and history buffs.
Within a beautiful forest sits Los Alamos a quiet science town with much to discover.
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Rapidly appreciating homes in Los Alamos
As of early 2025, Los Alamos’ median home price is $560,000, compared to Santa Fe’s median of $600,000 and the national median of about $410,000. Prices in Los Alamos are generally on the rise, as there's high demand, low inventory and little space to expand; much of the surrounding land is federally protected. Nonetheless, homes here tend to sell within an average of 15 days, far less than the national average of 44 days.
Most properties here are Northern New Mexico-style homes built by the government immediately following World War Two; these are most commonly found in central Los Alamos and range from $450,000 to $700,000. Newer Santa Fe-style homes can be found in the town's western and northern outskirts, with prices ranging from $700,000 to $1 million.
Traditional pueblo style homes can be found scattered around Los Alamos.
Many styles of homes can be found around Los Alamos from Traditional to Ranch and Pueblo.
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One of New Mexico's top school districts
Los Alamos Public Schools earns an overall A from Niche, which rates it the No. 2 district in the state. In 2023, the College Board named LAPS the District of the Year, citing its college-going culture and the opportunities students are given to earn college credit. The A-rated Los Alamos High is the town's sole high school, and since its founding in 1946, has won over 110 state championships. “The students are always winning awards,” Havemann says. “My son was part of state championship-winning tennis, soccer and hockey teams when he was a kid. Just the other day, a group of students won an award for using AI to detect wild animals in the dark.” The University of New Mexico also has a Los Alamos campus where students can pursue associate’s degrees.
Los Alamos is home to a University of New Mexico campus which is easily accessible for students.
Los Alamos High School is one of the highest rated schools in the state.
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Forests, ski slopes and more in Los Alamos
Surrounded by the Jemez Mountains’ steep canyons and pine forests, Los Alamos residents enjoy an abundance of natural spaces. “We’re an extremely active community, with nearly 800 miles of maintained trails,” says Ian Maes, a Los Alamos local and Realtor with the Keller Williams Maes Group. East of the township, the 14-mile-wide Valles Caldera is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world and is often visited for its mountain meadows and natural hot springs. In the winter, the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area — often called Ski Hill — is a go-to for locals. “We’re a little smaller than Ski Santa Fe, but the hills are way steeper,” says Maes. “People take a look at our Bunny Hill and think that it’s just a regular slope.”
Within the township of Los Alamos, locals also have access to a host of parks and recreation centers. “You can get hung up on all the nature without even mentioning our Olympic-sized aquatic center,” Havemann says. “We’ve even got a new ice rink that attracts people from Canada because you can play right under the stars.”
The Pajarito Ski area is a favorite getaway near Los Alamos.
Just outside of Los Alamos sits the Valles Caldera Natural Preserve, which sits in the crater of an ancient volcano.
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Small-town shopping and events along Central Ave
Central Avenue serves as Los Alamos’s Main Street, where small businesses buzz with local traffic and events bring the community together. Art supply stores and fashion boutiques sit between cafes, noodle houses and brewpubs. The Bradbury Science Museum invites visitors to learn about the Manhattan Project, and the Ahsley Pond recreation space host the Los Alamos Summer Concert Series. “You can set up with your blanket, picnic and a bottle of wine to enjoy free music as the kids play in bouncy castles,” Maes says. A handful of grocery stores can also be found here. For more shopping and dining, as well as nightlife, most locals head south to Santa Fe.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory runs the Bradbury Science Museum, a great spot to learn about the lab.
Mermaid and the Wolf is a quaint coffee shop in the middle of downtown Los Alamos.
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Quick commute to Santa Fe
New Mexico State Road 502 runs through the center of Los Alamos, connecting residents to Pojoaque 17 miles east; from there, Santa Fe is 16 miles south. Atomic City Transit offers free bus routes between Los Alamos, White Rock and the Los Alamos Medical Center. The Los Alamos County Airport became open for public use in 2008, but most residents still rely on the Albuquerque International Sunport, 98 miles south.
Low crime figures in Los Alamos
In 2023, the Los Alamos Police Department reported crime figures significantly lower than in nearby Santa Fe. The Los Alamos National Laboratory’s security presence in the city is also high, with two vehicle access portals along Jemez Road and a third on Pajarito Road. “Safety here is key,” says Maes. “I’ve had to reach out to homeowners to ask for keys to show their house, and they’ll tell me, ‘We haven’t locked the doors in over 20 years, walk right on in.’”
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