Our Lady of Guadalupe, State Highway 47
Peralta’s story
Peralta in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1952 on.
Explore the history →
PeraltaNM
A town of 3,499.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Cathy from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,499
2025 Census estimate · +4.4% since 2020
Typical home
$405K
+2% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
355
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#15 of 72 in NM
Is Peralta a good place to live?
Peralta is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C+ overall, ranked 15th of 72 in New Mexico, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is incomes: the median household earns $73K. It also does better than most on health: CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 62% of the country. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $405K, 5.7 years of the Albuquerque metro’s $71K median household income. On hazard risk, just 15 of New Mexico’s 161 towns do worse.
WeakestDHazard risk
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Peralta for work
Where Peralta’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
355jobs based in Peralta
5%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Peralta grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Mexico), ordered by how far Peralta is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.5 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Jobs & incomeBOpen →HealthPresbyterian Hospital 17.8 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 26 attractions →University Stadium and 24 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Peralta. Close and well known come first.
17 mi Stadium & arenaUniversity Stadium
19 mi National MonumentPetroglyph National Monument311K visitors a year
18 mi TheatreKiMo Theater
19 mi MuseumNational Museum of Nuclear Science & History
19 mi Stadium & arenaTingley Coliseum
33 mi Stadium & arenaRio Rancho Events CenterSources: 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 · KiMo Theater: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · National Museum of Nuclear Science & History: AllenS, Public domain · Tingley Coliseum: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0 · Rio Rancho Events Center: Maryabm2009, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Peralta: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Peralta, and how to reach them.
PowerPNM16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBosque Gardens Mdwca water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers85% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offVilliage of Los Lunas Recycling Center, 3 miOpenStreetMap
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 hereValencia County ClerkValencia County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8704287042 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 Peralta.
Peralta fares better on crime within New Mexico than nationally, has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns and is healthier than Los Lunas and its other neighbors.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Top of a very high hazard risk in Peralta: inland flooding
One declared disaster, in 2022, has brought federal aid to Peralta households. On expected storm and flood damage, Peralta sits above 89% of U.S. communities. 2 flood insurance claims have been paid in the town since 2011. Expected losses in Peralta break down as 85% from inland flooding and 8% from earthquakes.
89risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
2
paid flood claims since 2011
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB−
Peralta’s public schools trail 53% of New Mexico districts
Its public schools are run by the Los Lunas school district. Peralta’s only public school teaches 227 students.
47%of NM districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peralta ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 227 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About half of Peralta’s working residents commute to Albuquerque
Peralta has 355 jobs for its 1,403 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 32.4 minutes, against 23.5 across New Mexico.
Most working residents leave Peralta for work: only 5% work in town. In Peralta, the typical journey to work is 32 minutes, above both New Mexico’s towns (23 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line in the town. This New Mexico town had 355 jobs in 2023, up 92 from 2013.
5%work in town
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Peralta5%
Albuquerque49%
Los Lunas10%
Kirtland AFB6%
Bosque Farms3%
19 mi
median commute distance
355
jobs based in Peralta
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 37% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
For cost of living, Peralta earns a C+
Home values are up 2% over the year to September 2026. For households in Peralta, the share who are owner-occupiers is 83%. In Peralta, the typical rent is $1,246 a month, where New Mexico’s towns sit at $936 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$405KZillow home value
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,246 a month | $936 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Peralta$405K
New Mexico$316K
+2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Expect four seasons and hot summers in Peralta
July afternoons average 94.2°, hotter than in 95% of U.S. towns; January nights average 21.2°.
In Peralta, the typical July afternoon high is 94°F. About 5 inches of snow falls in a winter.
5″snow a winter
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 94°F | 93°F | 85°F |
| January low | 21°F | 21°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–54°
Spring39–75°
Summer60–93°
Fall41–74°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
For health, Peralta earns a B
That grade tops all 3 graded neighbors; Los Lunas (B−) comes closest.
In Peralta, just over a fifth of adults have been diagnosed with depression. Two figures for adults in the town: 71% had a checkup this year, 11% smoke cigarettes.
62%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 69% | 79% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 8.1% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
6 better26 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Peralta | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8.1% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 15.2% | 20.9% |
VA New Mexico Healthcare System
16.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
79th
percentile among NM towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than New Mexico overall
College graduates make up 26% of adults 25 and older, against 31% across New Mexico. Adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (23% statewide). Peralta is growing: up 4.4% since 2020, to 3,499 residents (2025 estimate).
39.9median age · NM 39.4
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 years | 37.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 23% | 29% |
PeraltaNew MexicoUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school24%
Some college26%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.3 points. Across New Mexico, 50.3% of residents are women.
| Peralta | NM | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.7% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.8% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.7% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.3% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 19.9% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.5% | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.5% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.9% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.2% | 25.7% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.1% | 22.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.9% | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.1% | 17.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.8% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,500, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsD
0% of Peralta is conserved land
Just 0 of its 2,834 acres are conserved, so there is little public open land in Peralta itself; its outdoors grade is D.
Among 70 New Mexico towns, just 5 have a lower concentration of trails than Peralta. 1.0 miles of trail.
#63for trails in NM
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,834 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyB−
Less crime per resident in Peralta than in 50% of U.S. towns
At 18.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 89% of New Mexico’s graded towns. Reported crimes rose from 34 to 48 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Peralta’s level of property crime stands at 8.6 per 1,000 residents. The rate of reported violence for Peralta comes to 5.1 per 1,000 residents.
50%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Peralta | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.1 per 1,000 residents | 4 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.6 per 1,000 residents | 16.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Peralta5.1
New Mexico6.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Peralta8.6
New Mexico23.6
U.S.15.5
50th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
89th
percentile among NM towns
18
violent crimes reported in 2025
30
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Peralta
20pages on Peralta
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 53% of NM districts · 1 schoolSafetyB−5.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than NM on 6 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$405K typical home · up 2% in a yearWork & commuteB$73K median household income · 355 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 89% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Peralta
About 4 of every 100 Peralta residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
About Peralta
Town in New Mexico, United States
Peralta is a town in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. Prior to its incorporation on July 1, 2007, it was a census-designated place (CDP). As of the 2020 census, Peralta had a population of 3,342. Peralta is part of the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,862 ft
- ZIP code
- 87042
- Area code
- 505
Peralta’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Peralta.
Bosque FarmsValenciaLos LunasPeralta
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NM rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peralta | #15 | C+ | C+ | B− | B− | B |
| Bosque Farms | #11 | B− | B | B+ | B− | C+ |
| Valencia | — | — | B+ | — | B− | C |
| Los Lunas | #53 | D | C | D | B− | B− |
Valencia has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Valencia reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Peralta with a neighbor →
Questions about Peralta
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Peralta, NM a good place to live?
Peralta grades C+ overall, better than 36% of U.S. towns and #15 of 72 in New Mexico. It grades B for health, B− for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Peralta, NM expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.