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Taos, NM

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Taos, NM

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 55
Population6,468
Foreign Born9.0%
Population Density1,050people per mi²
Median Age52.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

109/100

9% above national average

A-

The Real Cost of Living in Taos, New Mexico

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$27k
Comfortable $84k$123k
Luxury $87k+$134k+
Elite (Top 5%) $144k+$224k+
Affordability Ratio

38%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean84%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
24
Poor
5
Negative
10

Groceries

4 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

2.5mi

Airport

Holy Cross Medical Center Heliport

2.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Taos, NM

0.4mi

Critical Amenities

Golf0Nearest 11.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 24.8 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 14.7 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 0.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$47k+15.9%
38% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$313k
52% below US avg
College Educated
36.2%
3% above US avg
WFH
12.5%
13% below US avg
Homeownership
60.1%
8% below US avg
Median Home
$433k
53% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D-
High Risk

Significantly higher crime rates than 78% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
41.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−32.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−23.4%
Homicide
0.16 / 1k Residents87% above state avg
Robbery
0.47 / 1k Residents7% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
5.90 / 1k Residents20% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−42.0%
Burglary
8.23 / 1k Residents114% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
23.59 / 1k Residents61% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
3.10 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+3Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Taos, New Mexico
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C
Weak10.2% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (250% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone6A~-7°F min
Growing Season162 days209 frost-free
Annual Rainfall12.6"
Elevation6,965 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B+
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great733 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,050/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 325 mi · coast 481 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$21.8M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T07:02:03.000Z

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