$426,647Average Value$257Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
Desert scenery surrounds Chimayo’s culturally rich community
Chimayo is a residential area surrounded by desert landscape, just 9 miles east of Española near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the Santa Cruz Valley. The community is rooted in New Mexico’s unique culture. The word, “Chimayo,” is a Hispanic weaving technique, and many local artisans still use the craft today. Additionally, the area is a known pilgrimage site with a historic Catholic chapel, El Santuario de Chimayó. “The beauty and historic charm of Chimayo makes it a truly special place, where the preservation of traditions and values passed down through generations is deeply important to the community,” says Realtor LyAnn Vigil with Keller Williams Realty, who has about 8 years of experience.
Chimayo is known for its culture, community spirit and breathtaking landscapes.
Chimayo locals can experience their history and enjoy their cultural roots at the Chimayo Museum.
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Single-family homes with adobe exteriors
Most homes in Chimayo are spread out along narrow, winding roads and within specific neighborhoods, called "plazas" or "placitas." Properties are often separated by fields, fences and desert trees. Ranch-style homes and cottages are common, built between the 1920s and 1950s. Many of these properties have Northern New Mexico architecture with features such as stucco or adobe siding. There are also a handful of single-story Spanish Revivals with red-tiled roofs. Modern pueblos from the 1990s are another popular housing style for the area. There are both single- and two-story properties, and most are painted with bright colors. Prices range between $310,000 and $525,000, depending on the home’s size and age.
According to Vigil, most homes are multi-generational and passed down among families. Additionally, the CAP Index Crime Score in Chimayo is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Pueblo style homes can be found in Chimayo.
Chimayo homes are often found on large lots.
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Local commerce and national chains in Española
While Chimayo is primarily residential, a handful of galleries and artisan shops are found throughout the area selling fabrics, pottery and wood carvings – such as Centinela Traditional Arts and Trujillo’s Weaving Shop. Rancho de Chimayó is a restaurant in town serving New Mexican cuisine, and La Fonda del Santuario is a casual eatery with Mexican street food located outside the community’s historic chapel.
Española is around 9 miles west with additional options along the Riverside Drive commercial corridor. Pizza Parlor is the oldest pizzeria in the city, and there are multiple traditional New Mexican restaurants such as Sopaipilla Cafe and El Parasol. National retailers include Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and Harbor Freight. For groceries, there’s Food King and Center Market. “Santa Fe is just a bit farther, providing a larger city experience with a broader selection of shopping, dining and cultural attractions,” Vigil says.
Food King near Chimayo offers value groceries and essentials.
Chimayo residents enjoy traditional New Mexican food at Gabriel’s of Santa Fe.
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Chimayo’s historic and cultural destinations
One of Chimayo’s most notable attractions is El Santuario de Chimayó, a Catholic chapel built in the 1810s. The small adobe building is a designated National Historic Landmark furnished with both Spanish and Native American-inspired décor. Known for its healing dirt, the chapel attracts over 300,000 pilgrims a year during Holy Week.
Another cultural site is the Chimayo Museum, with its rotating exhibits on the history of Chimayo. These include photographs and artifact displays from both Hispanic and Native American communities. “Chimayo is rich in generational culture with traditions passed down through the years, including weaving, farming, a vibrant community of artists and the celebrated lowrider culture,” Vigil says.
The historic and very popular Santuario de Chimayo is located in Chimayo.
Discover local history at the Chimayo Museum near Rio Chiquito.
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Playgrounds and nearby lakes are key spots for recreation
La Arboleda Community Center is Chimayo’s primary source of recreation. The outdoor area has picnic shelters, a basketball court and multiple playgrounds with climbing structures. La Arboleda Senior Center is a building in the back that hosts activities and classes. The Black Mesa Golf Club is a public, 18-hole golf course about 8 miles away in Española.
About 6 miles south of Chimayo is the Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area, which surrounds its namesake water source. There are over 6 miles of hiking trails within the Santa Cruz Lake Trail System, and fishing and boating are allowed on the water. North Lake Campground and Overlook Campground both have RV and tent sites for overnight visitors.
Santa Cruz Lake is just minutes away from Chimayo.
Chimayo families can enjoy a day at La Arboleda Community Center.
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Española public schools with quality programs
Children living in Chimayo can attend schools in the Española Public School District, which offer open enrollment opportunities. Chimayo Elementary School earns a C grade from Niche, while Carlos F. Vigil Middle School has a C-minus. Both offer an English Language Development program for bilingual students. From there, students can attend Española Valley High School, which receives a C-plus. The high school offers programs such as JROTC and Future Farmers of America (FFA) Agriculture Education.
Chimayo Elementary School offers a strong academic foundation for K–6 students.
Espanola Valley High has many sports programs and clubs for students to join.
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Traveling in and around Chimayo by car or bus
Chimayo’s expansive landscape and winding residential roads require a vehicle to navigate. New Mexico state Road 76 is the area’s main thoroughfare, traveling east and west. Bus stops for the North Central Regional Transit District are dotted along NM 76 and head to Española. The Santa Fe Regional Airport is roughly 37 miles away.
Written By
Brittany Bell
Photography Contributed By
Nate Myers
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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On average, homes in Chimayo, NM sell after 212 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Chimayo, NM over the last 12 months is $304,950, up 224% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to your private mountain sanctuary! Tucked away just past Nambe and a scenic 25-minute drive from Santa Fe, this architecturally unique home offers the perfect blend of quietude and character. Whether you're drawn to the creative angles and beams, or the beautiful tongue-and-groove woodwork, this residence feels like a work of art. The thoughtful two-level layout features: Main Level: A
$4,000 seller credit with acceptable offer! Back on market! Appraisal complete! New septic currently being installed! AND..... $4,000 credit to buyer with acceptable offer!!!! Discover the enchanting allure of this charming Chimayo, NM home, where breathtaking scenic views envelop your personal retreat. Spanning 1,600 square feet, this residence boasts beautiful wood floors that gleam in the
Spacious two-story stucco home featuring generous square footage, oversized bedrooms, and large bathrooms. Includes a detached garage with capacity for four vehicles, plus a sizable lot with a storage shed. Enjoy the enclosed balcony off the primary bedroom—perfect for relaxing. With a little personal touch, this home can truly shine!
Capture a piece of gorgeous Chimayo land on .95 lush acreage!! Flat land with easy building sites provides for house, guest house and storage buildings! Trees and birds abound! Access to BLM land is available as well. There is a shared well on the property and a gate already provided for access into the property. Water rights also will transfer!! Owner may finance with 20% down at 5% interest,
Vacant lot on .50 ac in the Heart of Chimayo near Rancho de Chimayo and Santuario Church. Easy access on Juan Medina Road. Electric is on site, Community water available, Septic required. No Covenants.
Beautiful vacant 2.67 acre lot in Chimayo. Set near stunning mountain vistas and immersed in the deep cultural and historical roots of Northern New Mexico, this lot presents a rare chance to build in one of the region’s most picturesque and meaningful communities. Embrace the opportunity to create your own peaceful retreat in this serene and inspiring setting.
DESERT RIPARIAN DELIGHT - 2 CASITAS | 2 BATHS | 1,900 SQFT | 5.7 ACRES. Fabulously Fun Chimayo River Compound & Leisure Retreat. Welcome the natural bounty of the Chimayo river valley at this open concept modern pueblo casita compound with leisure pools and river access. Beat the heat with the soaking pool complete with waterfall grotto and lounging pad or cozy up in the winter with the hot tub
Welcome to this beautiful and cozy 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath 1995 Champion 28x80 home on a permanent foundation with a deactivated title, making it bank-financeable. With 2,026 sq. ft. of living space on 2.49 peaceful acres, this property offers the perfect blend of comfort, functionality, and northern New Mexico charm.Inside, you’ll find a spacious and inviting layout featuring remodeled
Looking for land in Chimayo with a well?? Well, here you go! 2+/- acres at the end of CR 86A, past the Chimayo Earth Dam. Manufactured homes are allowed.
Seize this unique opportunity to own a multi-use property in the heart of historic Chimayo, a town renowned for its rich cultural heritage and the sacred Santuario de Chimayo. This expansive property offers over 5,000 sq ft of versatile space, featuring two kitchens, multiple rooms, two bathrooms, and a massive meeting room. It’s an ideal canvas for various uses such as a multi-housing unit,
Around 25 miles east of Los Alamos in the Española Valley, La Puebla is a rural, suburban community lush with fruit trees and centuries-old acequias (small irrigation ditches and canals). Dating back to the late 1700s, La Puebla was home to farmers who relied on access to the Santa Cruz River and the Acequia de la Puebla for their crops. Today, the community is less reliant on agriculture and more popular for its access to natural spaces and proximity to New Mexico’s number-one employer, the Los Alamos National Laboratory. “A lot of places 30 to 40 minutes from Los Alamos, like La Puebla, are becoming really popular for employees there. And why wouldn’t you want to surround yourself with the peach trees and cottonwoods here?” says Alicia Hicks, a Northern New Mexico local and Associate Broker with Realty One of New Mexico. La Puebla is also less than a mile east of the Santa Clara Pueblo, who were integral in constructing the area’s acequias and whose Tewa language is sometimes still spoken in La Puebla today.
Set along narrow roads and dirt paths, La Puebla’s homes sit on acreage featuring fruit trees, cottonwoods and acequias that cross between lots. Although most residents no longer farm, many use their lots for chicken coops, workshops or horses. Most properties are single-family Northern New Mexico-style homes built between the 1920s and ‘50s, featuring bright stucco exteriors, pitched metal roofs and attached garages. Prices for these two- to three-bedroom homes on lots of 2 to 3 acres typically range from $310,000 to $630,000; two-bedroom fixer-uppers, however, start at $275,000. Pueblo Revival homes from the 1970s to ‘90s dot the area, featuring rambling layouts, tan stucco exteriors and flat roofs supported by exposed beams called vigas; prices for these three-bedroom homes on lots of about an acre to over 2 acres range from $545,000 to $650,000. Undeveloped lots can also be found here, ranging from $135,000 for 2 acres to $195,000 for 3 acres.
La Puebla is filled and surrounded by natural spaces and rivers managed by the Bureau of Land Management, offering plenty of outdoor recreation options. Much of the community’s southern half is dominated by the La Puebla Trails, whose miles of sandy paths cross over desert hills past hoodoos (tall rock spires formed by erosion), juniper trees and wildflowers. “The Santa Cruz River and Rio Grande in Española are also great for fishing, and the locals will help you find all the best spots,” says Hicks. The Northern Rio Grande Sporting Club in La Puebla invites novice and experienced marksmen to enjoy its pistol, shotgun, rifle and archery ranges. La Puebla Community Park also sits in the neighborhood’s center, featuring a playground, basketball courts and shade structures.
Along Santa Cruz Road, Theresa’s Art Gallery exhibits Mexican and Indigenous paintings by local artists, and the Enchanted Rose Shop makes custom jewelry on top of doing repairs. “Northern New Mexico areas like La Puebla have an artsy flair, even if people never expect it,” Hicks says. Locals can head to downtown Española for shopping and dining options, including the Center Market grocery store for produce from local farmers. “You’re literally buying chilis packed in Ziploc bags, so you know it's good,” Hicks laughs. Also in downtown Española, La Cocina New Mexican has been a mainstay since 1970 and uses farm-to-table ingredients to make its popular stuffed sopapillas.
La Puebla may no longer be a farming village, but it keeps its agricultural heritage alive and well. Every Spring, neighbors gather their shovels and team together to clean the centuries-old acequias of winter debris. From June to October, locals can also head to the Española Farmers Market in downtown Española every Monday. Hicks explains, “There’s so much good food grown here. Farmers from Chimayo to the east bring their Chimayo chilis, which are famous for being super spicy. The Española Valley is also super well known for its fruits, especially apples, so those are always good at the market.”
Route 285 is 3 miles south, leading 25 miles west to Los Alamos and 24 miles south to Santa Fe. New Mexico State Road 76 is the community’s main thoroughfare, dotted with North Central Regional Transit District bus stops and leading 6 miles west to downtown Española. Presbyterian Española Hospital is 7 miles west, and Santa Fe Regional Airport is 33 miles south.
Tony Quintana Elementary earns a C-minus from Niche and offers trilingual services in English, Spanish and Tewa. Carlos F. Vigil Middle receives a C-minus and provides free out-of-school educational services through the 21st Century Community Learning Program. C-plus-rated Española High won its second-ever Division 2-4A Football Championship in 2023.
To receive water from La Pueblo’s acequia system, residents must own land with water rights; to obtain water rights, locals must first gain permission from the board members and Mayordomo of the Acequia de al Puebla, the community’s acequia association. “Water rights are gold in New Mexico, and communities can be resistant to granting them,” Hicks says. Those with water rights must pay the Acequia de la Pueblo a fixed annual fee and help clean the acequias every spring.
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