Santa Fe, NM, “The City Different,” is truly a one-of-a-kind city with its unique architecture, fabulous food scene, and landscapes unlike anywhere else. You’ll find great museums, concerts and performances to see nearly every day of the week, and plenty of outdoor activities. It’s no wonder Santa Fe is also home to about 88,200 people. As you start your house hunting journey, there’s two key points to keep in mind – the median home sale price is $550,000 and the average rent price in Santa Fe is $2,450.
If you want to call New Mexico home, but you’re not sure about living in Santa Fe’s city center, don’t worry. At Redfin we’ve collected 4 of the best Santa Fe suburbs to consider moving to. And the best part is that they’re all less than 35 miles away from the city center. You’ll be close enough to explore all of Santa Fe’s best activities, without living the city life.
#1: Española
Median home price: $390,000
Average sale price per square foot: $227
Distance from Santa Fe: 26 miles
Española, NM homes for sale
Española, NM apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $390,000, Española is the first spot on our list of Santa Fe suburbs. About 10,500 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about a 26 mile drive away from downtown Santa Fe. Living in Española, you can grab a meal at one of the many local restaurants and explore what the town has to offer.
Deciding between renting or buying your next home? Explore your options.
Compare the costs of renting vs buying and find a lender to secure your mortgage.
Deciding between renting or buying your next home?
Compare the costs of renting vs buying and find a lender to secure your mortgage.
#2: Los Alamos
Deciding between renting or buying your next home? Explore your options.
Deciding between renting or buying your next home?
Median home price: $549,000
Average sale price per square foot: $295
Average rent for an apartment: $2,200
Distance from Santa Fe: 34 miles
Los Alamos, NM homes for sale
Los Alamos, NM apartments for rent
The second suburb on our list is Los Alamos. Only 34 miles from the city center you can visit the Santa Fe Plaza in no time. Some popular things to do in Los Alamos include checking out one of the historic spots in town like Los Alamos History Museum where you can find the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, the Oppenheimer House, Los Alamos Nature Center, and the Bradbury Science Museum. There are also plenty of outdoor activities like hiking the Los Alamos Mesa Trail or seeing the picturesque views from Anderson Overlook.
#3: Eldorado at Santa Fe
Median home price: $582,400
Average sale price per square foot: $347
Distance from Santa Fe: 15 miles
Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM homes for sale
Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $582,400 and only about a 25 minute drive away, Eldorado at Santa Fe is the next suburb on our list. Even with a population of about 6,000, there are plenty of cool areas to explore in Eldorado at Santa Fe. If you find yourself moving here, make sure to hike the Galisteo Basin Preserve.
#4: White Rock
Median home price: $602,000
Average sale price per square foot: $296
Distance from Santa Fe: 33 miles
White Rock, NM homes for sale
White Rock, NM apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than Eldorado at Santa Fe is the suburb of White Rock. About 5,900 people live in this Santa Fe suburb, where you can hike the Big Enchilada Trailhead or the Blue Rock Trailhead and enjoy the beautiful views at White Rock Overlook.
Methodology: Whether a suburb was under a 35-mile drive from downtown Santa Fe. Median home sale price data and average rent price from the Redfin Data Center during December 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.