Rio Lucio, NM, View N, Junction NM 75 and Indian Route 206, 2011, 2011
Rio Lucio’s story
105 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1964 on.
- 1921Rio Lucio is settled
Rio LucioNM
485 people live in this town, settled in 1921.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: MARELBU · CC BY 3.0
Population
485
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$180K
Census ACS
Household income
$45K
median
Median age
43.4
years
Jobs based here
87
Balanced
Is Rio Lucio a good place to live?
Rio Lucio’s average commute is 44 minutes, above both the New Mexico town median (23 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 74 New Mexico towns, just one has a lower midsummer high than Rio Lucio. Rio Lucio has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
485 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Picuris PuebloRio Lucio
Getting set up
Moving to Rio Lucio: who provides what
Rio Lucio is unincorporated, so Taos County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerKit Carson Electric Coop15.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRio Lucio Mdwca water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers90% 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 code8755387553 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 Rio Lucio.
Natural hazards
The FEMA risk score in Rio Lucio is higher than in most of New Mexico or the rest of the country
59% of Rio Lucio’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
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Rio Lucio
Among 74 New Mexico towns, just 4 have a lower January low than Rio Lucio. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 16° and about 28 inches of snow falls in a winter.
28″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–43°
Spring32–61°
Summer51–81°
Fall34–63°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 19
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Rio Lucio
Commuting out is the norm here: 5% of working residents work locally. Rio Lucio’s median household income comes in at $45,000. Among residents locally, 6.2% live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Los Alamos (18%), Albuquerque (15%) and Santa Fe (6%).
5%work in town
| Rio Lucio | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.7% | 14% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Rio Lucio5%
Los Alamos18%
Albuquerque15%
Santa Fe6%
Taos5%
39 mi
median commute distance
87
jobs based in Rio Lucio
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
Rio Lucio stands out in New Mexico and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have been diagnosed with depression
For adults in Rio Lucio, the share who say their health is fair or poor is 28%. The town does better than the New Mexico average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 2.
| Rio Lucio | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 16% | 8.1% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 68% | 69% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 12% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 23% | 23% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
5 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Rio Lucio | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with depression | 18.1% | 23.2% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 5.4% | 6.6% |
| More uninsured adults | 22.5% | 15.6% |
Holy Cross Hospital A Div of Taos Health Systems
17.8 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 Rio Lucio. Close and well known come first.
30 mi MountainWheeler Peak
35 mi National MonumentBandelier National Monument248K visitors a year
37 mi MuseumGeorgia O'Keeffe Museum
28 mi Ski areaSki Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Q3855588 runs · 1,753 ft vertical
30 mi National forestCarson National Forest
37 mi Park & preserveSanta Fe PlazaSources: 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 · 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 · Santa Fe Plaza: See above, CC BY 2.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rio Lucio
15pages on Rio Lucio
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Rio Lucio
About 4 of every 100 Rio Lucio residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
About Rio Lucio
CDP in New Mexico, United States
Rio Lucio is a census-designated place (CDP) in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Rio Lucio had a population of 303.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,251 ft
Questions about Rio Lucio
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rio Lucio, NM a good place to live?
Rio Lucio has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.