Daughter of Spanish-American farmer ironing, 1940
Chamisal’s story
275 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1940.
- 1751Chamisal is founded
ChamisalNM
Photo: Public domain · Public domain
Population
300
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$222K
Census ACS
Household income
$37K
median
Median age
50.4
years
Land area
2 sq mi
Is Chamisal a good place to live?
Chamisal’s typical journey to work is 42 minutes, above both New Mexico’s towns (23 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only one of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare has a lower peak summer temperature than Chamisal. Chamisal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Chamisal stand out
Where Chamisal beats most towns.
Getting set up
Moving to Chamisal: who provides what
Chamisal is unincorporated, so Taos County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerKit Carson Electric Coop15.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChamisal Mdwca water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers88% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesTaos CountyTaos County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn New Mexico you can register online until 28 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTaos County ClerkTaos County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code8752187521 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chamisal.
Natural hazards
Chamisal stands out in New Mexico and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
59% of Chamisal’s expected losses from natural hazards come from avalanches, followed by inland flooding at 29%. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 96% of U.S. communities.
96risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesInland floodingWildfire
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Chamisal
The top destinations are Taos (15%), Albuquerque (14%) and Santa Fe (12%). Chamisal: 20% of residents live below the poverty line. Half of commuters travel less than 37 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Chamisal0%
Taos15%
Albuquerque14%
Santa Fe12%
Rio Lucio12%
37 mi
median commute distance
0
jobs based in Chamisal
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–43°
Spring32–61°
Summer51–81°
Fall34–63°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Chamisal’s adults have diabetes than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town
Among adults in Chamisal, 18% report frequent physical distress. Only 3 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Chamisal. Against the New Mexico average, Chamisal comes out ahead on 5 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 8. In Chamisal, 11% of adults binge drink, and 30% say their health is fair or poor.
| Chamisal | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 16% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 26% | 19% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 8.1% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
5 better19 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Chamisal | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11% | 13.7% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 19.1% | 23.2% |
| More adults with diabetes | 19.7% | 13.2% |
Holy Cross Hospital A Div of Taos Health Systems
19.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 32 attractions →Wheeler Peak and 24 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chamisal. Close and well known come first.
32 mi MountainWheeler Peak
33 mi National MonumentBandelier National Monument248K visitors a year
40 mi National PreserveValles Caldera National Preserve85K visitors a year
35 mi MuseumGeorgia O'Keeffe Museum
26 mi Ski areaSki Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Q3855588 runs · 1,753 ft vertical
30 mi National forestCarson National ForestSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Wheeler Peak: Davishan99, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bandelier National Monument: Andrew Dunn (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 2.0 · Valles Caldera National Preserve: Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, Public domain · Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0 · Ski Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Q38555: Ybratcher, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carson National Forest: David Herrera from Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo, CC BY 2.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chamisal
15pages on Chamisal
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Chamisal
About 2 of every 100 Chamisal residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
Small town
300 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
About Chamisal
Census-designated place in Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Chamisal is a census-designated place (CDP) in Taos County, New Mexico. It is located along the scenic High Road to Taos. As of the 2020 census, Chamisal had a population of 255. Chamisal was founded by settlers on the Las Trampas Land Grant which dates back to 1751.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,474 ft
- ZIP code
- 87521
Questions about Chamisal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chamisal, NM a good place to live?
Chamisal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.