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New Mexico›San Miguel County

TecoloteNM

Is Tecolote a good place to live?

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

What makes Tecolote stand out

Where Tecolote beats most towns.

Small town

126 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Nearby towns
Getting set up

Moving to Tecolote: who provides what

Tecolote is unincorporated, so San Miguel County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerCentral New Mexico El Coop17.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTecolote Mdwca water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Miguel CountySan Miguel County provides services here
SchoolsWest Las Vegas 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 hereSan Miguel County ClerkSan Miguel County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code8770187701 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 Tecolote.

Who lives here

Fewer adults under 35 in Tecolote than across New Mexico

Tecolote’s midpoint age comes in at 44.7 years. 24% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across New Mexico.

44.7median age · NM 39.4
TecoloteNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
Median age44.7 years37.2 years40.5 years
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+24%23%29%
TecoloteNew MexicoUnited States

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma0%
High school37%
Some college40%
Associate’s0%
Bachelor’s12%
Graduate13%

Women and men · all residents

Somewhere between 44% and 100% women

The Census survey reached too few of Tecolote’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±31 points. Across New Mexico, 50.3% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Tecolote
TecoloteNMU.S.
Under 1023.8%11%11.6%
10 to 170%10.7%10.3%
18 to 240%9.3%9.1%
25 to 340%13.2%13.7%
35 to 4434.1%12.8%13.2%
45 to 5421.4%11.2%12.2%
55 to 642.4%12.5%12.7%
65 to 7415.9%11.5%10.2%
75 and older2.4%7.8%7%
No diploma0%12%10.4%
High school36.5%25.7%26%
Some college39.6%22.2%19.1%
Associate’s0%9.2%8.8%
Bachelor’s11.5%17.1%21.6%
Graduate12.5%13.9%14.1%

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several points

Natural hazards

The biggest natural risk in Tecolote is inland flooding, at a very high overall level

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities. Just over two thirds of Tecolote’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by wildfires at 26%.

86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
86Very high riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingWildfire

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

Tecolote has 0.0 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

The top destinations are Santa Fe (23%), Las Vegas (17%) and Albuquerque (8%). In Tecolote, the average commute is 31 minutes. The median commute is under 41 miles.

0%work in town

Where working residents work

In Tecolote0%
Santa Fe23%
Las Vegas17%
Albuquerque8%
Santa Rosa3%
41 mi
median commute distance
1
jobs based in Tecolote
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Tecolote’s year

A winter brings about 26 inches of snow, with January nights at 20° and July afternoons at 86°.

26″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter21–50°
Spring34–67°
Summer54–85°
Fall37–68°
Oct 7
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of New Mexico and the rest of the country, fewer of Tecolote’s adults have been diagnosed with depression

The share of adults in Tecolote who have diabetes: 17%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Tecolote beats New Mexico on 2 and trails on 2.

TecoloteNew Mexico townsU.S. towns
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)21%16%8.1%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)17%14%12%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)29%26%19%
Depression (CDC PLACES)19%23%23%
32 measures vs. New Mexico
2 better28 too close to call2 worse
What stands outTecoloteNM
Fewer adults with depression19%23.2%
Fewer adults who have had cancer6.4%7.4%
More adults with diabetes17.1%13.2%
Alta Vista Regional Hospital
20.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

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

Outdoors

0% of Tecolote is conserved land

5.1 miles of trail. Tecolote’s density of trails stands at 0.9 miles per square mile.

0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 3,581 acres
5.1 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi

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

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Tecolote

16pages on Tecolote
After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Tecolote

A commuter town

100% of working residents leave Tecolote for work

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

23% → Santa Fe Santa Fe 23% 17% → Las Vegas Las Vegas 17% 8% → Albuquerque Albuquerque 8% 3% → Santa Rosa Santa Rosa 3% 3% → Angel Fire Angel Fire 3% 2% → Alamosa Alamosa 2% Tecolote · 0% stay
1jobs based in Tecolote
0%of working residents work in town
41 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Tecolote

Unincorporated community in New Mexico, United States

Tecolote is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Tecolote had a population of 234. The community is located along Interstate 25 at Exit 335. Etymology: The name is Mexican Spanish for "owl" (from Nahuatl tecolatl).

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

Area
5.6 sq mi
Elevation
6,296 ft

Questions about Tecolote

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Tecolote, NM a good place to live?

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