The Town FilesDulce, New Mexico
Community in Rio Arriba County · population 2,788 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $53,300
- Household income
- $39,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.7
Dulce is a community of 2,788 people in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $53,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 84% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 82% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of New Mexico towns.
- #2 in The 16 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Mexico
- #4 in 16 Small Towns in New Mexico With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #8 in The 17 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #10 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in New Mexico
- #16 in The 22 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Mexico
- #18 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Dulce ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dulce is worth $53,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $39,773, which is more affordable than 97% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $550 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dulce | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $53,300 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $550 | $916 |
| Median household income | $39,773 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Dulce
| People | Dulce | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 10.0 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.9% | 82.9% |
Weather in Dulce
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 17.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.7 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 217 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Dulce since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on September 29, 2014.
Severe weather in Rio Arriba County since 1996
Rio Arriba County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Flood | EM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 6, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4197: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba County had 9,291 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,908 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Dulce itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Dulce
3 public schools with 561 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DULCE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 265 | 8.5 |
| DULCE HIGH | 9-12 | 166 | 10.4 |
| DULCE MIDDLE | 6-8 | 130 | 13.0 |
Dulce questions
Is Dulce, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dulce scores better for retirees than 82% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 71%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Dulce?
The median owner-occupied home in Dulce is valued at $53,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,773, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $550 a month.
What is the weather like in Dulce?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.4 inches of precipitation a year and 55.7 inches of snow.
Does Dulce get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Dulce in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)