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Living in
South Valley.
South 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 South Valley
Living in South Valley means being in the Albuquerque metro area without the city proper—which keeps housing costs down (median home value around $224,000 and rent averaging $954/month) but also means you're car-dependent for most daily needs. The community is about 80% Latino, with strong family-oriented demographics and relatively stable employment at 3.7% unemployment. You'll have a straightforward commute into Albuquerque proper, averaging about 26 minutes, and access to outdoor recreation like Petroglyph National Monument nine miles away.
South Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.5%
Foreign-Born
16.2%
Broadband Internet
81.1%
of households
Population Growth
-8.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (88.3%), and 46.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.1%
of households
Married Couples
41.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
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 Livingrent 11% below NM average
Rent, home values, and income in South Valley
In South Valley, rent runs 11% below the NM average, and home values are 10% below the NM average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,508
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NM
Unemployment in South Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bernalillo County, which includes South Valley, is close to the NM average.
Unemployment rate
South Valley: Bernalillo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bernalillo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What South 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
Commute25.6 min avg
How South Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Valley, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 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 South 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 South 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
Air Quality58 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bernalillo County, which includes South 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
Climate91°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Valley has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
53°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
9.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.8"
Hot Days/Year
69
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
56
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 22°F | 0.45" |
| Feb | 57°F | 27°F | 0.47" |
| Mar | 66°F | 33°F | 0.54" |
| Apr | 72°F | 40°F | 0.59" |
| May | 81°F | 48°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 91°F | 57°F | 0.57" |
| Jul | 93°F | 63°F | 1.53" |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 1.52" |
| Sep | 83°F | 54°F | 1.26" |
| Oct | 72°F | 41°F | 1.02" |
| Nov | 60°F | 30°F | 0.59" |
| Dec | 50°F | 22°F | 0.65" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Valley
Uninsured
10.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Presbyterian Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Albuquerque
Lovelace Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Albuquerque
Unm Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 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.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Valley
South Valley's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Valley (within 15 miles)
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
5.2 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, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Valley
South Valley has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petroglyph National Monument (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petroglyph National Monument
National Monument
9 mi awaySalinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
National Monument
54 mi awayBandelier National Monument
National Monument
56 mi awayValles Caldera National Preserve
National Preserve
62 mi awayManhattan Project National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayPecos National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayEl Malpais National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayEl Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Valley
South Valley Library
3904 Isleta Blvd. Sw, Albuquerque
Cities Near South Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Valley FAQ
Is South Valley, New Mexico affordable?⌄
South Valley's median rent is $954/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,224/year. Median home value is $224,300.
Is South Valley, New Mexico safe?⌄
South 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 South Valley, New Mexico?⌄
Bernalillo County, which includes South Valley, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Valley, New Mexico?⌄
The cost of living in South Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $954/month and median household income is $58,224/year. The median home value is $224,300. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Valley, New Mexico?⌄
The average commute in South Valley is 26 minutes, which is about 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