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Palace of the Governors
New Mexico›Santa Fe County
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Santa FeNM

Trash & recycling
8 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
Photo of Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM · Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Source ↗

Population
89,837
2025 Census estimate · +2.7% since 2020
Typical home
$577K
+0.7% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
46.3
years
Jobs based here
47,645
Balanced
TownGrade
C
#22 of 72 in NM

Is Santa Fe a good place to live?

Santa Fe's crime rate is higher than 97% of U.S. towns, with 472 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Overall it grades C, 22nd of 72 graded towns in New Mexico. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 76% of the country and it is more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $577K, 7.3 years of the Santa Fe metro’s $79K median household income. 58% of working residents work locally in Santa Fe, above both New Mexico’s towns (13%) and U.S. towns (8%). Its National Register listings include Palace of the Governors and Santa Fe Plaza. On hazard risk, just 10 of New Mexico’s 161 towns do better.

StrongestAWalkabilityAOutdoorsAHistoryWeakestD−SafetyC−Cost of living

What makes Santa Fe stand out

Where Santa Fe beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Santa Fe Plaza
HistoryA
Settled in 1610
52 places on the National Register
A history going back 416 years.
12.2of 20 on EPA’s indexCar-dependentWalkable
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 91% of U.S. towns
4.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Fe5.2
New Mexico6.5
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD−
20% less violent crime than NM
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza · National Register of Historic Places
Santa Fe’s story

416 years in pictures

Santa Fe Plaza is one of 4 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1610, comes before those of 98% of the New Mexico towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 4,846 in 1850, 87,505 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1740 and 4 maps from 1952 on.

52 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1610Santa Fe is settled
Explore the history →

How Santa Fe grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Mexico), ordered by how far Santa Fe is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 91% of comparable towns) to D− for safety (better than 3%), so the C overall blends very different results.

SafetyD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.2 of 20; 4.5% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthPresbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center 4.1 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & income$73K median household incomeC+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History42 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life7.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market55 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 46.3; 48% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and 20 more within 40 miles

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

All 51 attractions →
in town MuseumGeorgia O'Keeffe Museumin town Park & preserveSanta Fe Plaza16 mi National MonumentBandelier National Monument248K visitors a year27 mi National PreserveValles Caldera National Preserve85K visitors a year12 mi National Historical ParkPecos National Historical Park37K visitors a yearin town MuseumNew Mexico Museum of Art
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

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

Getting set up

Moving to Santa Fe: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Santa Fe, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerPNM16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSanta Fe Water System (City Of)1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown pickupTown crews pick up at the curbTown site
SchoolsSanta Fe Public 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 hereSanta Fe County ClerkSanta Fe County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP codes87507, 87505, 87501, 8750687507 48% · 87505 34% · 87501 17% · 87506 1%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 Santa Fe.

Santa Fe carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of New Mexico (mostly inland flooding) and has less tooth loss than most of New Mexico, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New Mexico.

HousingCost of living grade C−

Santa Fe earns a C− for cost of living

At 7.3 years of the Santa Fe metro’s $79K median household income, the typical home (about $577K) costs more against local pay than in 93% of New Mexico towns; that ratio is one input to that grade.

Homes sold in Santa Fe spent a median 55 days on the market. The typical Santa Fe home is worth about $577,000, up 0.7% in a year, 83% above the New Mexico typical home. Only 6 of the 70 New Mexico towns we compare have a higher rent at the middle of the market than Santa Fe. The share of households in Santa Fe who are owner-occupiers: 64%.

$577KZillow home value
Santa FeNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Median rent$1,463 a month$936 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home64%70%73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent52%48%48%

Typical home value

Santa Fe$577K
New Mexico$316K
Market temperature
BalancedA seller's marketBuyer’sSeller’s
55
days on market
98.2%
sale-to-list price
+0.7%
value change, 1 year
118
homes sold in May
Full pageSanta Fe’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 0.7% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 7.9 years of incomeRents$1,463 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 4 graded neighbors

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

SchoolsB

On state tests, Santa Fe’s schools beat 56% of New Mexico districts

Three of its 39 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. Public schools: the Santa Fe school district. 6 public schools serve Santa Fe, with 2,929 students in all.

56%of NM districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
El Camino Real Academy CommunityLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8Grades PK–8704–
Santa Fe HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–121,491A−
Carlos Gilbert ElementaryTop results in townGrades K–6Grades K–6317A
Full pageSanta Fe’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsSANTA FEVs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighborsEvery school39 schools · El Camino Real Academy CommunityQuestions“Are Santa Fe’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA

In Santa Fe, 4% of the land is conserved

In 74 parks and preserves, walkers have 191 miles of trail. La Tierra Trails, at 1,459 acres with 29.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Santa Fe’s density of trails stands at 3.7 miles per square mile.

#6for trails in NM
Santa FeNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile3.7 miles per square mile1.00.4
Conserved land4%3.8%4.3%
4%
conserved · 1,334 of 33,354 acres
191 mi
of trails · 3.7 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. La Tierra Trails29.6 mi1,459
2. Frank S Ortiz Park2.9 mi39
3. Santa Fe Open Space2.6 mi68
Full pageSanta Fe’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map191 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk29.6 miles of trail · La Tierra TrailsConserved land4% conserved · 1,334 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Santa Fe?”

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

SafetyD−

Santa Fe earns a D− for safety

Reported crimes fell from 5,219 to 3,098 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Its violent offense rate stands at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Santa Fe’s level of property crime comes in at 28.8 per 1,000 residents.

3%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
Santa FeNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)28.8 per 1,000 residents16.29.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)5.2 per 1,000 residents41.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Fe5.2
New Mexico6.5
U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Fe28.8
New Mexico23.6
U.S.15.5
3rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
14th
percentile among NM towns
472
violent crimes reported in 2025
2,626
property crimes reported in 2025
Full pageSanta Fe’s safety reportOpen the page
Violent crime by type5.2 violent crimes per 1,000Crime over the yearsDown since 2023Vs. the neighbors8 bordering townsQuestions“Is Santa Fe, NM safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Top of a very low hazard risk in Santa Fe: inland flooding

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 94% of New Mexico towns, with expected losses of about $169 per resident a year; that rating is what its A for hazard risk is built on.

In Santa Fe, the risk rating from FEMA is 14 of 100. Expected losses in Santa Fe break down as 52% from inland flooding and 19% from wildfires.

14risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
14Very low riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingWildfireEarthquakes
10
paid flood claims since 1989
Full pageSanta Fe’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims10 paid flood claims · Since 1989Past disasters7 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready2.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthA−

Santa Fe earns an A− for health

Its widest gap with New Mexico is tooth loss: 8.4% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.2% statewide.

14% of adults in Santa Fe report frequent mental distress; 30% sleep under 7 hours. The town beats the New Mexico average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. Also worth knowing: among adults in the town, 26% have obesity.

76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
Santa FeNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)26%35%35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)14%16%17%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)30%34%36%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)71%69%79%
32 measures vs. New Mexico
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
What stands outSanta FeNM
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth8.4%14.2%
Fewer adults with obesity25.9%34.1%
More adults who have had cancer8.8%7.4%
Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center
4.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
88th
percentile among NM towns
Full pageSanta Fe’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer smokersHospitals & doctors nearby4.1 miles to an ER · Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical CenterHow adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than NM on 15 of 32

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

Climate

Santa Fe: four seasons and pleasant summers

In July, afternoons reach 86°; in January, nights fall to 18°, and about 20 inches of snow falls in a winter.

20″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter19–45°
Spring34–65°
Summer53–85°
Fall36–66°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageSanta Fe’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 18°Rain & snow20″ of snow a winter · 13 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.2° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+

A job hub: Santa Fe has 1.4 jobs for every working resident and draws in 27,291 commuters

Jobs in Santa Fe grew by 4,142 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 47,645. In Santa Fe, 17% of workers work from home. Half commute less than 5 miles. Its mean commuting time is 21 minutes.

58%work in town
Santa FeNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Work from home17%8.4%11%
Average trip to work21 minutes23 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$73,000$55,000$80,000

Where working residents work

In Santa Fe58%
Albuquerque14%
Los Alamos7%
Rio Rancho1%
Española1%
5 mi
median commute distance
47,645
jobs based in Santa Fe
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
Full pageSanta Fe’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here47,645 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work58% work in Santa FeCommute times21 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 5 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Santa Fe

20pages on Santa Fe
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 56% of NM districts · 39 schoolsSafetyD−5.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than NM on 15 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$577K typical home · up 0.7% in a yearWork & commuteC+$73K median household income · 47,645 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
OutdoorsA191 mi of trails · 4% conserved landPlacesAttractions51 nearby · Georgia O'Keeffe Museum under 1 miLibraryA−5.2 library visits per residentCollegesSouthwestern College, in town
The story
HistoryASettled 1610 · 52 on the National RegisterFamous people42 born in Santa FeTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 65 residentsClimate86° summer highs · 20″ of snow
Day to day
News21 recent stories about Santa FeWeatherHandbookZIP code 87501, 87502, 87503Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

5 within 15 miles of the center of Santa Fe

Southwestern CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Santa FeIn townSanta Fe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa Fe4 mi$1,851 in-state tuitionInstitute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts DevelopmentUniversity or college · Public · Santa Fe5.4 mi$5,920 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Santa Fe residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A growing town

Santa Fe has grown 32% since 2010

67,947 counted in 2010 and 87,505 in 2020; an estimated 89,837 in 2025.

67,9472010
87,5052020
89,8372025 est.

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025

Landmarks

52 places in Santa Fe on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
Santa Fe PlazaNational Historic Landmark
National Park Service Southwest Regional OfficeBuilt 1939 · National Historic Landmark
Randall Davey HouseBuilt 1847
Reredos of Our Lady of LightBuilt 1761

Famous people from Santa Fe

42 notable people were born in Santa Fe.

See all 42 →
A
Adrian GrenierAmerican actor, director, producer, musician · born 1976
Ben Ray LujánU.S. Senator from New Mexico · born 1972
Lori NelsonAmerican actress and model · 1933–2020
J
Josh WestBritish rower · born 1977
C
Charlotte Kate FoxAmerican actress · born 1985
Tim WirthAmerican politician · born 1939

About Santa Fe

Capital city of New Mexico, United States

Official town website ↗

Santa Fe ( SAN-tə FAY, -⁠ fay; Spanish: [santa ˈfe]; Spanish for 'Holy Faith') is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-most populous city in the state with a population of 87,505 as of the 2020 census, while the Santa Fe metropolitan area has an estimated 158,000 people. The greater Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area includes eight counties in north-central New Mexico with 1.16 million residents. The county seat of Santa Fe County, Santa Fe is situated at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the highest altitude of any U.S. state capital, with an elevation of 6,998 feet (2,133 m). Founded in 1610 as the capital of Nuevo Méxi…

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

Established
1610
Area
52 sq mi
Elevation
7,198 ft
ZIP code
87501, 87502, 87503
Area code
505

Santa Fe’s neighbors

8 towns share a border with Santa Fe.

Explore the map →
La CienegaTres ArroyosTano RoadSanta Fe FoothillsConejoTesuqueHyde ParkValle VistaLa CienegaTres ArroyosTano RoadSanta Fe FoothillsConejoTesuqueHyde ParkValle VistaSanta Fe
La Cienega
SW
Visit
Tres Arroyos
W
Visit
Tano Road
N
Visit
Santa Fe Foothills
SE
Visit
Conejo
SE
Visit
Tesuque
NE
Visit
Hyde Park
NE
Visit
Valle Vista
SW
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownNM rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Santa Fe#22CC−D−BA−
La Cienega#4BC+—BA
Tres Arroyos——C—BA−
Tano Road——D—BA
Santa Fe Foothills——————
Conejo——————
Tesuque——C−—BB
Hyde Park——————

Tres Arroyos, Tano Road and Tesuque have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. La Cienega, Tres Arroyos, Tano Road and Tesuque report no FBI crime data of their own. Santa Fe Foothills, Conejo and Hyde Park aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Santa Fe with a neighbor →

Questions about Santa Fe

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Santa Fe, NM a good place to live?

Santa Fe grades C overall, better than 27% of U.S. towns and #22 of 72 in New Mexico. It grades A− for health, D− for safety and B for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Santa Fe, NM expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Santa Fe, NM known for?

42 notable people were born here, including Adrian Grenier and Ben Ray Luján.