State rank#3 of 33
Smallest county156,105 residentsBernalillo County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 35049
Santa Fe County, New Mexico
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population156,105
Household income$79,071
Unemployment3.7%
Life expectancy79.3 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Santa Fe County has 156,105 residents and ranks #3 by population among New Mexico county equivalents. Median household income is $79,071. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within New Mexico
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Santa Fe County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Santa Fe County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $446,300 median home value and $1,389/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $79,071, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Santa Fe County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, poor or fair health, and life expectancy. College attainment is 46.1% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.1%, rank #2 of 33 available New Mexico counties.
- Poor or fair health: 15.8%, rank #2 of 33 available New Mexico counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.3 years, rank #2 of 32 available New Mexico counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $446,300, rank #32 of 33; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,389/mo, rank #32 of 33; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 12%, rank #26 of 33; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within New Mexico
Rank and range use only counties in New Mexico with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$79,071
$79,071; above the state county median of $53,429.
State rank #3 of 32 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$446,300
$446,300; above the state county median of $167,200.
State rank #32 of 33 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,389/mo
$1,389/mo; above the state county median of $872/mo.
State rank #32 of 33 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.7%
3.7%; below the state county median of 4.4%.
State rank #6 of 33 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
46.1%
46.1%; above the state county median of 20.9%.
State rank #2 of 33 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.3 years
79.3 years; above the state county median of 74 years.
State rank #2 of 32 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.8%
15.8%; below the state county median of 21.9%.
State rank #2 of 33 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
12%
12%; above the state county median of 10.6%.
State rank #26 of 33 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 908 residents
1 per 908 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,091 residents.
State rank #3 of 31 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 125 residents
1 per 125 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 268 residents.
State rank #9 of 33 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Santa Fe County FAQ
Is Santa Fe County a good place to live?
Santa Fe County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, poor or fair health, and life expectancy. College attainment is 46.1% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
What should I know before moving to Santa Fe County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $446,300 median home value and $1,389/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $79,071, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Santa Fe County?
Santa Fe County has 156,105 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Santa Fe County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 35049; the parent state FIPS is 35.
What is the median household income in Santa Fe County?
The ACS median household income is $79,071.
How much does housing cost in Santa Fe County?
Housing benchmarks are $446,300 median home value and $1,389/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $79,071, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Santa Fe County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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