The Town FilesVelarde, New Mexico
Community in Rio Arriba County · population 514 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,100
- Household income
- $97,776
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 70.1
Velarde is a community of 514 people in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $234,100, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better transit than 82% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 72% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 71% of New Mexico towns.
How Velarde 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 Velarde is worth $234,100, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $97,776, which is more affordable than 77% of New Mexico towns. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Velarde | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $97,776 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.6% | — |
Who lives in Velarde
| People | Velarde | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 70.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 53.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.5% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 53.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 37.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Velarde
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 11.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.7 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 41 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 Velarde since 1950.
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 Velarde itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Velarde
1 public school with 58 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VELARDE ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 58 | 11.6 |
Towns near Velarde
- Dixon, NM4.0 mi · 938 people · home $392,700
- Los Luceros, NM5.4 mi · 891 people · home —
- La Villita, NM6.7 mi · 999 people · home $253,500
- Ohkay Owingeh, NM9.3 mi · 1,464 people · home —
- Chamita, NM9.8 mi · 1,005 people · home $222,300
- Chimayo, NM11.1 mi · 3,077 people · home $227,500
- Hernandez, NM11.4 mi · 756 people · home $148,200
- El Duende, NM11.4 mi · 573 people · home —
Velarde questions
Is Velarde, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Velarde scores better for retirees than 71% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 56%. 53.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 70.1).
How much does a house cost in Velarde?
The median owner-occupied home in Velarde is valued at $234,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,776, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Velarde?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.7 inches of snow.
Does Velarde get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Velarde 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)