The Town FilesSan Rafael, New Mexico
Community in Cibola County · population 1,164 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,400
- Household income
- $83,423
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 59.3
San Rafael is a community of 1,164 people in Cibola County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $120,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks quieter than 90% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 90% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 88% of New Mexico towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #1 in The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in New Mexico
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Mexico
- #18 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #18 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #24 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Mexico
How San Rafael 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 San Rafael is worth $120,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $83,423, which is more affordable than 96% of New Mexico towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | San Rafael | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,400 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $83,423 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.1% | — |
Who lives in San Rafael
| People | San Rafael | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.7% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 17.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | — min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 82.9% |
Weather in San Rafael
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 9.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of San Rafael since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2007.
Severe weather in Cibola County since 1996
Cibola County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Flood | EM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| November 23, 2011 | Flood | DR-4047: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cibola County
Cibola County had 7,226 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,565 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in San Rafael itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in San Rafael
1 public school with 51 students, about 6.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN RAFAEL ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 51 | 6.4 |
Towns near San Rafael
- Grants, NM5.6 mi · 9,163 people · home $136,500
- Milan, NM6.9 mi · 2,456 people · home $75,500
- Skyline-Ganipa, NM16.9 mi · 1,614 people · home $83,900
- Prewitt, NM21.0 mi · 842 people · home —
- Paraje, NM25.0 mi · 705 people · home —
- Thoreau, NM28.0 mi · 2,367 people · home $95,200
- Laguna, NM28.7 mi · 1,282 people · home —
San Rafael questions
Is San Rafael, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, San Rafael scores better for retirees than 88% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 90%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.3).
How much does a house cost in San Rafael?
The median owner-occupied home in San Rafael is valued at $120,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,423, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in San Rafael?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.7 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does San Rafael get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of San Rafael 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)