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Chama, NM
Village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Population
776
Land area
2.9sq mi
People per sq mi
269
ZIP codes
0
Chama and its ZIP codes
Chama at a glance
- Chama is about 15 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
- The median household income is $30,694, 52% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $189,100 (24% below New Mexico) and median rent is $570 a month.
Local data for Chama, NM
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Chama, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$30,694
Poverty rate
20.7%
Median home value
$189,100
Median rent
$570/mo
Homeownership
80.3%
Bachelor's or higher
18.9%
Median age
64.4
Average commute
8.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (119), German Americans (40), Norwegian Americans (37).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Rio Arriba County. PPP loans are for Chama.
Unemployment rate
4.8%
Aug 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,458
9,536 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,455
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$321M
FY 2026, $7,948 per person
How people get to work
Chama, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.9%
- Carpooled5.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked9.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home14.4%
Average one-way commute: 8.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Chama, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
697
Countywide, mostly drought
Flood insurance policies
147
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / 7°F
22.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chama, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.8%
U.S. 33.3% +5.5 pts
Diabetes
16.8%
U.S. 12.1% +4.7 pts
Smoking
12.1%
U.S. 12.8% -0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.5%
U.S. 11.1% +6.4 pts
Cities near Chama
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BrazosCensus-designated place | 9.6 mi | 0.2 |
| Los OjosCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.4 |
| EnsenadaCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.5 |
| Tierra AmarillaCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.7 |
| LumbertonCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 0.5 |
| DulceCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 12.8 |
| CanjilonCensus-designated place | 29 mi | 3.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Chama, NM in?
- Chama is in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
- What is the population of Chama, NM?
- About 776 people live in Chama, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Chama?
- Nearby places include Brazos (9.6 mi), Los Ojos (11 mi), Ensenada (11 mi), Tierra Amarilla (13 mi), Lumberton (20 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023