A small but historic city just north of Albuquerque
Though located just 15 miles north of Albuquerque, the small town of Bernalillo is a tight-knit community that celebrates a unique culture and history. “Many people have lived there for decades; family after family,” says Realtor Sarah Lopez with Keller Williams. “It’s very popular because it offers easy access to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, so people who commute back and forth can find competitive prices.” Around 9,000 people call Bernalillo home, living on both sides of the winding Rio Grande and sharing access to big-box shopping, local dining and a region full of outdoor adventure.
Many outdoor trails around Bernalillo lead to stunning views.
Bernalillo has a perfect mix of historic homes and new builds.
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Bernalillo celebrates its 17th-century roots
With a history dating back to the 1600s and beyond, Bernalillo has a rich heritage impacted by the Puebloan civilizations, the Spanish and Mexican colonial eras and America’s Old West. Most notably, its Fiestas de San Lorenzo have been held every August for more than 330 years. It includes an elaborate street performance known as the Matachines Dance or the Dance of Devotion that retells both religious and historical events. It involves costumes and drums and has specific roles for all ages in the community. Spanish priests started planting vineyards in the 1620s and wineries continue to play a role in the economy today.
Bernalillo is a well established city and was even a stop along Route 66.
Cowboys love attending the Sandoval County Sheriff Posse Rodeo.
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History and hiking in the great outdoors
Bernalillo is dotted with parks both large and small, like the skatepark and playground at Rotary Park and the pool at the Kampgrounds of America park. Beyond the city’s borders, vast stretches of desert preserve history with their burning sands. The Coronado Historic Site contains the excavated remains of a Pueblo village visited by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado during his search for El Dorado. Visitors can also take in panoramic views of the Sandia Mountains. Sandia Crest, east of town, is a major hiking destination, with warrens of trails running through its foothills. Golfers may opt to play at the Santa Ana or Twin Warriors Golf Clubs just north of Bernalillo.
Venture to the Coronado Monument in Bernalillo to see ruins from the Spanish era.
Kids enjoy the large playground at Rotary Park in Bernalillo.
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Spanish and Pueblo-influenced homes sit along a colonial highway
The historic Camino Del Pueblo, which used to run south to Mexico City, still serves as this city’s main thoroughfare. Bernalillo’s residential sections branch off from this colonial highway and feature a combination of Pueblo-influenced, Spanish Colonial Revival and ranch-style houses built from the 1920s into the 2020s. “A lot of people hold rental properties there, and it’s a good place to invest in land and hold it, because it can be broken up and made into smaller lots," Lopez says. "Along the river, you have super high-end custom homes, while you also have your trickle-in of trailers. People often prefer having a manufactured home just for the affordability aspect.”
Manufactured homes are mostly located along Bernalillo’s eastern edge, while site-built properties include 1960s and 1970s-built ranch style homes along Camino Del Pueblo, higher-end retirement homes at the Alegria community and 2000s-built postmodern and Spanish Colonial Revival properties in Bosque Encantado. Eastern Bernalillo’s streetscapes tend to feature pastel-colored, ranch-style homes with fences and sidewalk access. In the city’s western sections, scores of single-story New Traditional residences line fan-patterned streets that branch off from small boulevards, offering a greater degree of privacy and quiet. Bernalillo’s median home price of $420,000 is more than $100,000 higher than the Albuquerque and state averages.
Ranch style homes in Bernalillo are quaint and a popular choice.
You will see many unique manufactured homes within Bernalillo.
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Abundant retail conveniences and Neomexicano restaurants in Bernalillo
From its roots as a trading post between the Puebloans and the Spanish colonists of New Mexico, Bernalillo has evolved into a modern commercial center full of restaurants and shops. Retail and food services form two of the three pillars of Bernalillo’s economy, together with healthcare. The Plaza at Enchanted Hills, located at Bernalillo’s northwest corner, serves as this city’s shopping and dining hub. This concentration of big-box retailers includes an Albertsons, Walmart and Michaels in addition to smaller brand-name and local restaurants. Several Mexican and Southwestern restaurants serve up New Mexico's unique fusion cuisine along the Camino Del Pueblo and other streets close to the heart of Bernalillo. “There are great restaurants, many of them locally and family owned businesses," Lopez says. Abuelita’s New Mexican Kitchen tells the story of Bernalillo’s Spanish-Mexican history through its homestyle sopaipillas and pozole. This restaurant’s abundance of family photos and dolls honors the many generations of Neomexicanos whose centuries-old traditions still shape life in Bernalillo. Newer traditions are forged at breweries like the Kaktus Brewing Company and Bosque Brewing North, which blend German-Mexican brewing traditions with local creativity. Bernalillo is also close to the Sandia, Santa Ana and San Felipe Pueblos casinos, with Bernalillo’s Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel continuing to expand in size and employment into the late 2010s.
Abulita's is a cozy local restaurant in Bernalillo serving tasty New Mexican cuisine.
Bernalillo residents love to head out and enjoy jazz night at Kaktus Brewing.
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Future-focused education at Bernalillo High
Bernalillo’s students can attend Bernalillo Public Schools, which receives a C rating from Niche. Bernalillo High School, rated a C-plus, offers an AVID program to help underprivileged students prepare for college.
Bernalillo High School is one of the largest schools in the area.
Bernalillo Elementary School is one of two elementary schools in Bernalillo.
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Keeping safe in Bernalillo
Bernalillo's crime rate is more than double the national median and slightly above the state average, with particularly high rates of motor vehicle theft and property crimes. However, Bernalillo’s crime rate has plateaued since 2017. The city also contends with the occasional wildfire and earthquake.
Highway access to ABQ
Access to major highways and rail links offer Bernalillo residents easy access to urban centers and employment. “There’s the Rail Runner that can take you to Albuquerque and Santa Fe if you don’t want to drive," Lopez says. "It’s also right near the pueblo, so there are casinos and resort living; you can pop into a spa, and it also offers jobs.” Bernalillo sits just off Interstate 25, which puts drivers within an 18-mile and approximately 20-minute commute from downtown Albuquerque. For those who wish to skip the occasional highway traffic, Bernalillo is home to two Rail Runner train stations that take travelers to the Downtown Albuquerque Rail Runner Station within a 40-minute ride. The Sandoval County Regional Hospital is a 10-mile drive away via US Highway 550 and Paseo Del Volcan.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Photography Contributed By
Kody Martin
Video By
Tyler Belile
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