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New Mexico›Catron County
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RiversNM

The town, home to 48 people, lies in New Mexico.

Population
48
Census survey, 2020–24
Land area
2 sq mi

Is Rivers a good place to live?

100% of households live in a home they own in Rivers, above both New Mexico’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%). Rivers has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

48 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Nearby towns
Reserve · 3 mi
Lower FriscoLower FriscoRivers
Getting set up

Moving to Rivers: who provides what

Rivers is unincorporated, so Catron County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerNavopache Electric Coop15.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet1 providers0% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesCatron CountyCatron County provides services here
SchoolsReserve Independent SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES
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 hereCatron County ClerkCatron County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8783087830 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 Rivers.

Natural hazards

In Rivers, the FEMA risk score runs higher than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town

FEMA puts 47% of Rivers’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 46% to wildfires. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 100% of U.S. communities.

100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
100Very high riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingWildfireLightning
Full pageRivers’ hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters10 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

The climate in Rivers brings four seasons and hot summers

The typical July afternoon high for Rivers comes to 90°F.

90°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter19–56°
Spring30–73°
Summer50–89°
Fall34–74°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 30
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
Full pageRivers’ climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 90°, January lows 18°Rain & snow14″ of rain a year · Rain a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Rivers stands out in New Mexico and nationally: a smaller share of its adults binge drink

34% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Rivers. Of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Rivers. Against the New Mexico average, Rivers comes out ahead on 5 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 14.

RiversNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)19%14%12%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)47%35%35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)20%17%14%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)11%13%16%
32 measures vs. New Mexico
5 better13 too close to call14 worse
What stands outRiversNM
Fewer binge drinkers10.8%13.7%
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity14.2%16.5%
More adults with COPD12.5%6.6%
White Mountain Regional Medical Center
42.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageRivers’ health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby42.9 miles to an ER · White Mountain Regional Medical CenterHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than NM on 5 of 32

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Rivers

11pages on Rivers
The big questions
HealthBetter than NM on 5 of 32 CDC measuresNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
PlacesAttractions5 nearby · Gila National Forest 20 miLibraryReserve Public Library
The story
Climate90° summer highs
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Rivers; the nearest are

Western New Mexico UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Silver City68.3 mi$7,856 in-state tuitionNew Mexico State University-GrantsCommunity college · Public · Grants116 mi$2,136 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Rivers residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Rivers

Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States

Rivers is a census-designated place in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Rivers had a population of 22. The community is located at the confluence of the Tularosa River into the San Francisco River.

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

Area
2.2 sq mi
Elevation
5,695 ft

Questions about Rivers

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Rivers, NM a good place to live?

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