The Town Files

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

40,070 people. The median home is worth $243,700 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $57,155.

Towns in Rio Arriba County

Towns in Rio Arriba County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Española10,526$210,800$47,66735.7
Chimayo3,077$227,500$56,48448.8
Dulce2,788$53,300$39,77337.7

People and housing

Rio Arriba CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$243,700$187,400
Median rent$740$916
Median household income$57,155$55,614
Median age42.039.9
Bachelor's degree or higher19.0%18.7%
Below the poverty line18.2%18.0%

Jobs and pay

9,291 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,908 a year.

Largest industries in Rio Arriba CountyHealth care & social assistan…1,300 jobs · $63,906Retail1,010 jobs · $32,605Hotels & restaurants897 jobs · $26,287Other services307 jobs · $50,625Construction298 jobs · $68,384Administrative & support273 jobs · $72,317
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Rio Arriba County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 697 storm events in Rio Arriba County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Rio Arriba County by type since 1996Hail34Flood2Drought366Wildfire17High Wind32Lightning7Heavy Rain2Heavy Snow155Flash Flood43Winter Storm6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Rio Arriba County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 26, 2026FloodEM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding
June 20, 2024FireDR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3460: Covid-19
October 6, 2014Severe StormDR-4197: Severe Storms And Flooding
October 29, 2013FloodDR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).