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Rio Arriba County, NM
38 cities and towns and 29 ZIP codes in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
Population
40,070
Land area
5,861sq mi
People per sq mi
7
ZIP codes
29
Cities and towns in Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba County at a glance
- Rio Arriba County is 61% less dense than New Mexico as a whole.
- The median household income is $57,155, 11% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $243,700 and median rent is $740 a month.
- Its largest cities are Española (10,473), Dulce (3,218) and La Mesilla (2,697).
Local data for Rio Arriba County, NM
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rio Arriba County, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$57,155
Poverty rate
18.2%
Median home value
$243,700
Prices +2.6% in a year
Median rent
$740/mo
Homeownership
80.0%
Bachelor's or higher
19.0%
Median age
42.0
Average commute
30.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (9,111), German Americans (1,641), Irish Americans (1,533).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.8%
Sep 2026, +1.0 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
PPP loans
$41.5M
439 loans, 5,368 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$72.9K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Rio Arriba County, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.1%
- Carpooled9.0%
- Public transit0.6%
- Walked2.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home10.2%
Average one-way commute: 30.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rio Arriba County, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
697
Most often drought
Flood insurance policies
147
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 9°F
14.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone26 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rio Arriba County, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.9%
U.S. 33.3% +6.6 pts
Diabetes
17.2%
U.S. 12.1% +5.1 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
19.3%
U.S. 11.1% +8.2 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rio Arriba County
Population shown
- Española10,473
- Dulce3,218
- La Mesilla2,697
- Dixon1,623
- La Villita1,534
- Ohkay Owingeh1,194
- Los Luceros1,136
- El Rito1,102
- Chamita867
- Chama776
- San Jose776
- Hernandez769
- Santa Clara Pueblo733
- Truchas528
- El Duende454
- Canova452
- Tierra Amarilla429
- Cordova389
- Gallina318
- Alcalde285
- Medanales280
- Velarde229
- Ensenada225
- Chili209
- Canjilon185
- La Madera171
- Lumberton130
- Ojo Sarco112
- Lindrith111
- Coyote64
- Cañones57
- Youngsville44
- Pueblito41
- Abiquiu40
- Los Ojos23
- Lybrook21
- Brazos
- Lyden
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Rio Arriba County, NM?
- Española is the largest city or town in Rio Arriba County, with about 10,473 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Rio Arriba County?
- Rio Arriba County includes 29 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 87012, 87017, 87029, 87046, 87064.
- What is the population of Rio Arriba County, NM?
- About 40,070 people live in Rio Arriba County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Rio Arriba County?
- Rio Arriba County borders Santa Fe County, Sandoval County, San Juan County, Taos County, Los Alamos County, Archuleta County, CO, Conejos County, CO, Mora County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023