Is Albuquerque a "Big City"?

By U.S. standards, no. The 2020 Census recorded 564,559 residents, making it the 32nd-largest city—behind Tucson, Fresno, Sacramento, etc.

It is the largest city in New Mexico and the economic hub of the Albuquerque MSA (~915K). But it lacks the scale, density, transit, and global connectivity of true "big cities" (NYC, LA, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia).

Think of it as a mid-sized regional capital with a small-city feel, high quality of life, and stunning mountain setting.