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New Mexico›Santa Fe County

La TierraNM

A town of 315.

Is La Tierra a good place to live?

89% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in La Tierra, against 23% in New Mexico’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns. No town among the 74 in New Mexico we compare has a higher median age than La Tierra. 15% of the land in La Tierra is conserved, above both New Mexico’s towns (3.9%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). La Tierra has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

315 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Tano RoadLas CampanasTano RoadLas CampanasLa Tierra
Nearby attractions

Bandelier National Monument and 20 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around La Tierra. Close and well known come first.

All 51 attractions →
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Bandelier National Monument: Andrew Dunn (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 2.0 · Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0 · Valles Caldera National Preserve: Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, Public domain · Santa Fe Plaza: See above, CC BY 2.0 · Pecos National Historical Park: Mosamiazaz at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Ski Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Q38555: Ybratcher, CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting set up

Moving to La Tierra: who provides what

La Tierra is unincorporated, so Santa Fe County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerPNM16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLas Campanas Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSanta Fe CountySanta Fe County provides services here
SchoolsSanta Fe Public SchoolsPojoaque Valley Public Schools2 districts serve La Tierra; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereSanta Fe County ClerkSanta Fe County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8750687506 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 La Tierra.

Work & commute

In La Tierra, the median household income runs higher than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town

The median household income in La Tierra is $246,000. Since 2013, La Tierra has lost 57 jobs, to 6 in 2023. 6.3% of La Tierra residents live below the poverty line.

0%work in town
La TierraNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Median household income$246,000$55,000$80,000
Below the poverty line6.3%21%9.6%

Where working residents work

In La Tierra0%
Santa Fe43%
Los Alamos22%
Albuquerque16%
Rio Rancho4%
11 mi
median commute distance
6
jobs based in La Tierra
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

In La Tierra, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

La Tierra has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. La Tierra’s July high is 86°F.

20″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter20–45°
Spring35–65°
Summer55–85°
Fall37–66°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Outdoors

La Tierra has set aside 15.4% of its land for conservation

3.6 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.

15.4%conserved
15.4%
conserved · 963 of 6,254 acres
3.6 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazards

Wildfire leads a high hazard risk in La Tierra

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.

61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
61High riskLowerHigher
WildfireInland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Health

La Tierra stands out in New Mexico and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

21% of adults have obesity in La Tierra. Of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than La Tierra. 41% of adults have high blood pressure in La Tierra.

La TierraNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)21%35%35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)8.8%16%17%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)8.5%13%16%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)24%34%36%
32 measures vs. New Mexico
24 better3 too close to call5 worse
What stands outLa TierraNM
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity3.9%16.5%
Fewer adults facing food insecurity5%20.9%
More adults who have had cancer17%7.4%
Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center
9.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Housing

Homes in La Tierra sell for about $2.06M

Among 74 New Mexico towns, just 7 have a higher share of households owning their home than La Tierra.

$2.06Mmedian sale price
1
homes sold in May

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about La Tierra

15pages on La Tierra
After high school

Colleges nearby

5 within 15 miles of the center of La Tierra

A commuter town

100% of working residents leave La Tierra for work

Where La Tierra’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

43% → Santa Fe Santa Fe 43% 22% → Los Alamos Los Alamos 22% 16% → Albuquerque Albuquerque 16% 4% → Rio Rancho Rio Rancho 4% 4% → La Cienega La Cienega 4% 3% → Española Española 3% La Tierra · 0% stay
6jobs based in La Tierra
0%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About La Tierra

Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States

La Tierra is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census. As of the 2020 census, La Tierra had a population of 312. The CDP is in northern Santa Fe County. It is bordered to the east and southeast by Tano Road and to the southwest by Las Campanas. It is 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Santa Fe, the state capital.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
9.8 sq mi
Elevation
6,677 ft

Questions about La Tierra

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is La Tierra, NM a good place to live?

La Tierra has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.