The Town FilesSandia Knolls, New Mexico
Community in Bernalillo County · population 1,252 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,900
- Household income
- $91,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 47.9
Sandia Knolls is a community of 1,252 people in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $293,900, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 99% of New Mexico towns, more upscale than 97% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 93% of New Mexico towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Mexico
- #12 in The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico With Mild Winters
- #13 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #18 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Mexico
How Sandia Knolls 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 Sandia Knolls is worth $293,900, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $91,827, which is more affordable than 54% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,107 a month. 88.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sandia Knolls | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,900 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,107 | $916 |
| Median household income | $91,827 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.0% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sandia Knolls
| People | Sandia Knolls | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 17.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 82.9% |
Weather in Sandia Knolls
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 14.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandia Knolls since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 20, 1956 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 7, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 2025.
Severe weather in Bernalillo County since 1996
Bernalillo County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2016 | Fire | FM-5127: Dog Head Fire |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2880: White Fire |
Jobs and pay in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County had 347,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,493 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sandia Knolls itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Sandia Knolls
- San Antonito, NM2.8 mi · 989 people · home $370,700
- Paa-Ko, NM3.4 mi · 818 people · home $714,700
- Edgewood, NM4.9 mi · 6,174 people · home $306,400
- Sedillo, NM5.1 mi · 670 people · home $475,900
- La Madera, NM5.5 mi · 729 people · home $762,900
- Cedar Crest, NM5.6 mi · 933 people · home $248,400
- Thunder Mountain, NM5.9 mi · 1,171 people · home $400,000
- Barton, NM7.0 mi · 1,282 people · home $323,700
Sandia Knolls questions
Is Sandia Knolls, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sandia Knolls scores better for retirees than 93% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 92%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Sandia Knolls?
The median owner-occupied home in Sandia Knolls is valued at $293,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,827, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,107 a month.
What is the weather like in Sandia Knolls?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.9 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Sandia Knolls get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandia Knolls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 20, 1956. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- 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)