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Las Vegas, New Mexico is a small, historic high-plains town in the northeastern part of the state, and New Mexico Highlands University sits within easy walking distance of its centuries-old plaza. Not to be confused with its Nevada namesake, this is a preserved rather than restored town, with more than nine hundred properties on the National Register of Historic Places and a remarkably intact nineteenth-century character. Highlands, a public university with an arts and sciences tradition, brings a steady student presence to a town of modest size. The Gallinas River runs through town, and the city has revitalized its Riverwalk and Plaza Park, the heart of the old district laid out in 1835 along the Santa Fe Trail. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains surround the town.
The most walkable choice, putting students steps from campus, Bridge Street, and the Gallinas Riverwalk in the heart of the old town.
The streets immediately around campus are the natural pick for the shortest walk to class, full of older homes and student apartments.
Connecting the plaza to campus, this corridor offers a lively, central spot near shops and the river.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Las Vegas.
The town runs a limited local transit service, and the university is the main anchor, so most daily life happens within a compact radius. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in town, linking Las Vegas to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. For students living centrally, the compact core means you won't rely on transit much day to day. Check the local service schedule before depending on it.
Highlands sits within easy walking distance of the plaza, Bridge Street, and the Gallinas Riverwalk, so class, the old district, and the river paths are on foot for centrally located students. Biking works well on the calm streets near the river. The historic core is small and walkable. The flat streets near the river make for easy rides.
This is a rural town, so a car helps for grocery stores, the Sangre de Cristo trailheads, and the hour drive to Santa Fe down Interstate 25. Most students keep a car, but campus living keeps the essentials close. Parking is generally easy in this small town. Confirm permit and parking rules with your complex or the university before move-in.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Student rentals here are among the gentler options in the country, commonly running about $500 to $1,000 a month, with rooms in shared houses at the low end and one or two-bedroom apartments higher. Sharing a place with roommates can push each person's share well under that, which is part of the appeal of a small high-plains college town.
Browse student housing near each Las Vegas-area university.