RANK #910 / 996 NAT · #10 / 11 NM · POP 154,481
1YR FORECAST: -0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +11%
Santa Fe County, New Mexico, is often called "The City Different" due to its unique blend of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures, evident in its adobe architecture and vibrant arts scene. Located in the high desert foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the county seat, Santa Fe, is the oldest and highest state capital in the U.S. It is approximately an hour's drive north of Albuquerque, with commuter rail and bus services connecting the two cities. The area boasts over 300 days of sunshine annually, offering abundant outdoor recreation, including hiking and mountain biking on hundreds of miles of trails, skiing at Ski Santa Fe, and rafting on the Rio Grande.
Life in Santa Fe County offers a blend of cultural richness and access to nature, attracting a mix of families, professionals, and retirees. Public schools in the Santa Fe Public Schools district serve the city and surrounding communities, with options including traditional, magnet, and charter schools. The local economy is driven by sectors such as tourism, government employment, healthcare, and scientific research, with Los Alamos National Laboratory nearby. The county is also seeing growth in creative industries, including film and television production, and has initiatives supporting clean energy and sustainable job growth.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Globemallow 1 and 2 Solar and Battery Storage Project
Linea Energy, LLC
|
$349M | Proposed |
|
Rancho Viejo Solar Project
AES Corporation
|
$144M | Approved |
|
Amazon Delivery Station
Amazon
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Avenue Del Sur and College Drive Road Extensions
Santa Fe County Public Works
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Tierra Contenta Master-Planned Community
Twilight Homes
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Los Brios Master-Planned Community
Twilight Homes
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Santa Fe County scores just 8/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #910 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.2% and median household income of $70,522 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Santa Fe County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $374,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,252/month on average.
Santa Fe County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted -0.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.2% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Santa Fe County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.