What are the schools like in Santa Fe, NM?

Santa Fe is served primarily by SANTA FE. The district operates 19 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Santa Fe?

The median household income in Santa Fe, NM is $67,663 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Santa Fe, NM?

Santa Fe has an average high temperature of 43.0°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 14.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Santa Fe, NM affordable or expensive?

Santa Fe's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means Santa Fe is 0% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $370,600 and the median rent is $1,314 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Santa Fe, NM?

Santa Fe has a violent crime rate of 842.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5156.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Santa Fe, NM a Good Place to Live?

Santa Fe is a mid-sized city of 87,617 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $67,663 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% below the national average.

Strengths: Santa Fe stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Santa Fe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Santa Fe 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: 99.8

Santa Fe's overall cost of living index is 99.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Santa Fe costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.

Metric	Santa Fe, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$370,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,314	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,663	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Santa Fe's violent crime rate is 842.1 per 100,000 residents — 122% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

842.1 /100k

Property Crime

5156.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Santa Fe is served primarily by SANTA FE. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Santa Fe, NM	National Avg
School District	SANTA FE	—
Elementary Schools	19	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	44.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Santa Fe sees average highs of 43.0°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 14.1 inches of annual precipitation and 20.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Santa Fe, NM
Average High — January	43.0°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	14.1"
Annual Snowfall	20.2"

Demographics

Metric	Santa Fe, NM	National Avg
Population	87,617	—
Median Age	44.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	24.5%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	17.3%	22.2%
65 and over	24.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Agua Fria, NM 2 mi Conejo, NM 3 mi Tres Arroyos, NM 3 mi Arroyo Hondo CDP (Santa Fe County), NM 4 mi Seton Village, NM 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Santa Fe

Santa Fe, NM is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

87507 87505 87501

Santa Fe vs Other Cities

Santa Fe, NM vs Agua Fria, NM Santa Fe, NM vs Conejo, NM Santa Fe, NM vs Tres Arroyos, NM Santa Fe, NM vs Arroyo Hondo CDP (Santa Fe County), NM Santa Fe, NM vs Seton Village, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Fe, NM affordable or expensive?

Santa Fe's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That makes Santa Fe roughly 0% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $370,600 and median rent is $1,314/month.

What is the crime rate in Santa Fe, NM?

Santa Fe's violent crime rate is 842.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5156.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Santa Fe?

Public schools in Santa Fe are operated by SANTA FE. The district has 19 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 44.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Santa Fe, NM a good place to live?

Santa Fe, NM has a population of 87,617, a median household income of $67,663, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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 Santa Fe?

Santa Fe averages 43.0°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.1 inches with about 20.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 87507, 87505, 87501.

What is the population of Santa Fe?

The population of Santa Fe, New Mexico is 87,617 with a median age of 44.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Santa Fe?

Key numbers for living in Santa Fe: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $370,600, median household income $67,663, crime index 231 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Santa Fe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.