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Living in
North Valley.
North Valley is an unincorporated community in Bernalillo County, NM. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in North Valley
North Valley is a community of 11,474 people in New Mexico. The median household income is $61,498, and median home values are around $302,700. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
North Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Foreign-Born
5.4%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
-14.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in North Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (86.9%), and 21.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
24.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.2%
of households
Married Couples
40.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Living
Rent, home values, and income in North Valley
In North Valley, home values are 22% above the NM average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
37.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,120
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NM
Unemployment in North Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bernalillo County, which includes North Valley, is close to the NM average.
Unemployment rate
North Valley: Bernalillo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bernalillo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
North Valley is about 2% of Bernalillo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What North Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Albuquerque, NM metro area
Commute19.8 min avg
How North Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Valley, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 89% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, which covers North Valley, runs 89% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
623.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,465.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 44 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bernalillo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bernalillo County, which includes North Valley, the most common type is high wind, with 44 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | Drought | $145,000 |
| 2024 | 45 | High Wind | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 40 | High Wind | $1.1M |
| 2022 | 46 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 41 | High Wind | $501,000 |
| 2020 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $876,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
41 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bernalillo County, county-wide
North Valley is about 2% of Bernalillo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality58 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bernalillo County, which includes North Valley, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
58
Good Days
97
per year
Moderate Days
247
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Bernalillo County, county-wide
North Valley is about 2% of Bernalillo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Valley has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
10.7"
Annual Snowfall
7.7"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
59
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 21°F | 0.55" |
| Feb | 55°F | 24°F | 0.41" |
| Mar | 64°F | 30°F | 0.66" |
| Apr | 71°F | 37°F | 0.48" |
| May | 80°F | 45°F | 0.51" |
| Jun | 91°F | 54°F | 0.52" |
| Jul | 92°F | 61°F | 1.40" |
| Aug | 89°F | 60°F | 1.71" |
| Sep | 83°F | 51°F | 1.20" |
| Oct | 72°F | 38°F | 0.96" |
| Nov | 58°F | 27°F | 0.65" |
| Dec | 48°F | 21°F | 0.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Valley
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Central Desert Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.6 mi away · Albuquerque
Lovelace Women's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Albuquerque
Lovelace Westside Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Albuquerque
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education8.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Valley
North Valley's student/teacher ratio is 8.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Valley (within 15 miles)
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
6.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 17,244 students · in-state tuition $10,383 · 56% graduate · median earnings $50,072 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 542 students · 67% graduate · median earnings $37,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Petroglyph National Monument, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Valley
North Valley has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petroglyph National Monument (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petroglyph National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awayBandelier National Monument
National Monument
45 mi awayManhattan Project National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayValles Caldera National Preserve
National Preserve
52 mi awayPecos National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awaySalinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awayEl Malpais National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayChaco Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Valley
North Valley Library
7704 2nd Street Nw, Albuquerque
Cities Near North Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Valley FAQ
Is North Valley, New Mexico safe?⌄
North Valley is policed by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 624 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1466 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Valley, New Mexico?⌄
Bernalillo County, which includes North Valley, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in North Valley, New Mexico?⌄
The average commute in North Valley is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from