The Town FilesSouth Valley, New Mexico
Community in Bernalillo County · population 38,338 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $224,300
- Household income
- $58,224
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.7
South Valley is a community of 38,338 people in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $224,300, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more walkable than 99% of New Mexico towns, better for cycling than 93% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 91% of New Mexico towns.
How South Valley 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 South Valley is worth $224,300, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $58,224, which is more affordable than 32% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $954 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Valley | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,300 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $954 | $916 |
| Median household income | $58,224 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in South Valley
| People | South Valley | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in South Valley
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 9.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Valley since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 16, 2005 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 15, 1969.
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 South Valley itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Towns near South Valley
- Albuquerque, NM6.9 mi · 564,559 people · home $291,500
- Kirtland AFB, NM7.4 mi · 3,838 people · home —
- Bosque Farms, NM10.8 mi · 4,020 people · home $293,100
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM10.8 mi · 5,874 people · home $492,400
- North Valley, NM11.9 mi · 11,149 people · home $302,700
- Peralta, NM12.5 mi · 3,342 people · home $299,200
- Paradise Hills, NM13.1 mi · 4,329 people · home $254,600
- Meadow Lake, NM15.5 mi · 4,573 people · home $77,900
South Valley questions
Is South Valley, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Valley scores better for retirees than 9% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 6%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in South Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in South Valley is valued at $224,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,224, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $954 a month.
What is the weather like in South Valley?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.8 inches of snow.
Does South Valley get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 16, 2005. 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)