Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 38 min5:47 am – 8:24 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 42 min7:11 am – 4:53 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People899 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 48.0430 householdsMedian home value $302,90067% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,270 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.0% unemployment rate56% of adults are in the labour force, 462 employedMain industries: professional and business services 60%, public administration 23%, hospitality, food and recreation 17%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages57% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher100% finished high school, 29% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 46%, Spanish 54%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, 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, 7 mi away
Parks and public landsSanta Fe National Forestnational forest · within reach · 1,545,109 acresCarson National Forestnational forest · within reach · 1,390,440 acresValles Caldera National Preservenational conservation area · 27.8 mi · 88,967 acresBandelier National Monumentnational monument · 29.4 mi · 33,661 acresBaca Location No. 1 Othernational forest · 30.9 mi · 973 acresRamon Vigil Grant Othernational forest · 31.3 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes18 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.5 on 17 Mar 197312 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 home82% of households have a broadband subscription64% have cable, fibre or DSL0% rely on a mobile data plan alone18% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterVelarde Mdwcaserves 543 people from ground water4 health-based violations since 2021latest Dec 2024: groundwater treatment, treatment techniqueSource: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation6,590 ft2,009 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalPresbyterian Espanola Hospital13.6 miPost officeVelarde Post Office1.6 miFire stationVelarde Fire Department Station 11.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeNorthern New Mexico College13.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportTaos Regional Airport TSM26 miMajor airportAlbuquerque International Sunport ABQ86 miInterstateI-2538 miUS highwayUS 2853.4 miAmtrakLamy, NM LMY49 miCoachSanta Fe Amtrak Bus StopRoadrunner Shuttle27 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 87582 ZIP area.