Chilili, New Mexico, 1940
Chilili’s story
144 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1940 and 2 maps from 1954 on.
- 1882Chilili is settled
ChililiNM
A town settled in 1882, now home to 46 people.
Photo: Russell Lee · Public domain
Is Chilili a good place to live?
41% of residents live below the poverty line in Chilili, above both New Mexico’s towns (21%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare, none has a higher age of the median resident than Chilili. Chilili has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
46 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Chilili: who provides what
Chilili is unincorporated, so Bernalillo County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerCentral New Mexico El Coop17.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChilili Water Users Assn19 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesBernalillo CountyBernalillo 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 hereBernalillo County ClerkBernalillo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8705987059 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 Chilili.
Natural hazards
Chilili faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by wildfire
The FEMA hazard score for Chilili comes to 85 of 100. Nearly half of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from wildfires, followed by inland flooding at 44%.
85risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Chilili, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Only 5 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a lower typical July afternoon high than Chilili. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 19° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–45°
Spring34–65°
Summer53–84°
Fall36–65°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Chilili is
17% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Chilili. Only 4 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Chilili. In Chilili, 13% of adults report frequent mental distress, and 30% sleep under 7 hours.
| Chilili | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 67% | 69% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 36% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 8.1% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
10 better22 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Chilili | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4% | 6.6% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.3% | 14.2% |
VA New Mexico Healthcare System
22.3 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 38 attractions →University Stadium and 24 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chilili. Close and well known come first.
25 mi Stadium & arenaUniversity Stadium
32 mi National MonumentPetroglyph National Monument311K visitors a year
21 mi MuseumNational Museum of Nuclear Science & History
27 mi TheatreKiMo Theater
23 mi Stadium & arenaTingley Coliseum
24 mi Ski areaSandia Peak Ski Area66 runs · 1,599 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
University Stadium: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY 4.0 · Petroglyph National Monument: Unknown, Public domain · National Museum of Nuclear Science & History: AllenS, Public domain · KiMo Theater: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tingley Coliseum: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0 · Sandia Peak Ski Area: Skoch3, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chilili
13pages on Chilili
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Chilili; the nearest are
Central New Mexico Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Albuquerque25.4 mi$2,060 in-state tuitionUniversity of New MexicoUniversity or college · Public · Albuquerque25.4 mi$10,140 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Chilili residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
About Chilili
Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States
Chilili is a census-designated place in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Chilili had a population of 126. It is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Questions about Chilili
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chilili, NM a good place to live?
Chilili has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.