What it's like to live in Santa Fe
Santa Fe is a smaller city in New Mexico with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Santa Fe deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Strong hospital ratings
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
How Santa Fe compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Santa Fe
Based on Santa Fe's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,926
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,520 a year
- 49% of Santa Fe renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$88,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,490
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,463/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,463 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $444,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $444,900 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 57% above US
518 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2894/100k · Santa Fe Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
31 public schools inside the boundary
There are 31 public schools inside the boundary and 11 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pecos National Historical Park (19 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Santa Fe's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,463/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Santa Fe
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