What are the schools like in Peñasco, NM?

Peñasco is served primarily by PENASCO. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Peñasco?

The median household income in Peñasco, NM is $31,429 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Peñasco, NM?

Peñasco has an average high temperature of 42.1°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.4 inches.

Peñasco, NM Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Peñasco, NM affordable or expensive?

Peñasco's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Peñasco is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $209,800 and the median rent is $625 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Peñasco, NM?

Peñasco has a violent crime rate of 204.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1197.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Peñasco, NM a Good Place to Live?

Peñasco is a small town of 708 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $31,429 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Peñasco stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Peñasco is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Peñasco city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.1

Peñasco's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Peñasco costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Peñasco, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$209,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$625	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$31,429	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Peñasco's violent crime rate is 204.7 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

204.7 /100k

Property Crime

1197.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Peñasco is served primarily by PENASCO. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Peñasco, NM	National Avg
School District	PENASCO	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Peñasco sees average highs of 42.1°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 25.7 inches of annual precipitation and 28.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Peñasco, NM
Average High — January	42.1°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	25.7"
Annual Snowfall	28.4"

Demographics

Metric	Peñasco, NM	National Avg
Population	708	—
Median Age	40.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	45.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	49.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Vadito, NM 2 mi Rio Lucio, NM 2 mi Picuris Pueblo, NM 3 mi Chamisal, NM 3 mi Ojo Sarco, NM 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Peñasco

Peñasco, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

87553

Peñasco vs Other Cities

Peñasco, NM vs Vadito, NM Peñasco, NM vs Rio Lucio, NM Peñasco, NM vs Picuris Pueblo, NM Peñasco, NM vs Chamisal, NM Peñasco, NM vs Ojo Sarco, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peñasco, NM affordable or expensive?

Peñasco's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Peñasco roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $209,800 and median rent is $625/month.

What is the crime rate in Peñasco, NM?

Peñasco's violent crime rate is 204.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1197.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Peñasco?

Public schools in Peñasco are operated by PENASCO. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 13.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Peñasco, NM a good place to live?

Peñasco, NM has a population of 708, a median household income of $31,429, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Peñasco?

Peñasco averages 42.1°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.7 inches with about 28.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Peñasco?

Peñasco, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 87553.

What is the population of Peñasco?

The population of Peñasco, New Mexico is 708 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Peñasco?

Key numbers for living in Peñasco: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $209,800, median household income $31,429, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Peñasco side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.