Local servicesHospitalPresbyterian Espanola Hospital8.9 miPost officeAlcalde Post Office4.1 miTown hallEspanola City Hall8.8 miPoliceEspanola Police Department7.0 miFire stationVelarde Fire Department Station 24.4 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeNorthern New Mexico College8.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportTaos Regional Airport TSM30 miMajor airportAlbuquerque International Sunport ABQ81 miInterstateI-2531 miUS highwayUS 847.6 miAmtrakLamy, NM LMY42 miCoachSanta Fe Amtrak Bus StopRoadrunner Shuttle20 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 87511 ZIP area.
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Local Information
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 87511 ZIP area.
Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 37 min5:47 am – 8:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 42 min7:10 am – 4:53 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,700 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 43.5885 householdsMedian household income $82,781Median home value $228,800Median rent $442 a month88% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,127 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Work and commuting0.7% unemployment rate61% of adults are in the labour force, 1,355 employedMain industries: education and health care 33%, professional and business services 21%, retail 19%Average commute 30 minutes73% drive alone, 20% car-pool, 6% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
Education and languages16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher79% finished high school, 6% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 41%, Spanish 59%9% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 88°F, lows 55°FColdest month December: highs 45°F, lows 15°F11 in of rain a year, on about 30 dayswettest month August11 in of snow a year, on about 6 days40 days above 90°F, 182 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Alcalde station, 5 mi away
Nearby landmarksMesa de la Cejapeak · 6.1 miEl Ojo Negrospring · 6.4 miNorthern New Mexico Collegecollege · 8.5 miLower Entranas Trick Tankreservoir · 6.5 miLa Mesitapeak · 6.9 miSanta Cruz Lakelake · 8.0 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsSanta Fe National Forestnational forest · within reach · 1,545,109 acresCarson National Forestnational forest · 3.6 mi · 1,390,440 acresLos Potrerosrecreation area · 7.1 miRecreation Centerpark · 8.7 miBandelier National Monumentnational monument · 25.2 mi · 33,661 acresHyde Memorial State Parkstate park · 25.1 mi · 347 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes17 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.5 on 17 Mar 197311 mi away, near Chili, New MexicoMost recent: magnitude 3.3 on 30 Jan 202641 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowRio Arriba County, NM, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality85% of days had good air in 2025306 of 359 days measured53 moderate daysMedian index 44, worst day 87main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Rio Arriba County monitors, NM
Internet at home91% of households have a broadband subscription69% have cable, fibre or DSL6% rely on a mobile data plan alone9% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023
Drinking waterAlcalde Mdwcaserves 927 people from ground water10 health-based violations since 2021latest Jan 2026: arsenic, maximum contaminant level3 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation6,366 ft1,940 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
