The rural community of Rio Chiquito in the Sangre de Cristo foothills
Rio Chiquito is a rural, sparsely populated community in Santa Fe County. "It has a lot of steep hills in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains," says David Horpedahl, a qualifying broker and owner of Los Alamos Properties. Like many communities in the region, development was based on subsistence-type farming, which relies on water access and irrigation practices. "There's the little river, Rio Chiquito. But in New Mexico, a river can be like a teacup of water compared to somewhere in Washington state. They are basically streams, maybe 5 feet across and 10 inches deep," Horpedahl says. He mentions elevation as another aspect of the environment to consider, as newcomers may need to acclimate to the altitude. Rio Chiquito is about 6,700 feet above sea level.
Rio Chiquito homes offer mountain views and rustic charm.
Rio Chiquito blends natural beauty with deep tradition.
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Ranch-style and manufactured homes, mostly on enclosed lots
Many of the homes in Rio Chiquito are found on roads off state Routes 76 and 503, also known as the High Road to Taos and Cundiyo Road, respectively. The shorter interior roads, some of which are dirt, wind around lots enclosed within fencing, gates or walls of adobe or stone. Ranch-style homes and manufactured houses are among the types. Due to the limited number of properties recently on the market, a wide range of data is unavailable, though estimated values for single-family homes hover in the $500,000s. Buyers should check individual properties for utilities, septic systems, wells or water rights and irrigation infrastructure. The CAP Index Crime Score in Rio Chiquito is 1 out of 10, which is lower when compared to the national average of 4.
Rio Chiquito real estate features large lots and views.
Cozy homes in Rio Chiquito offer quiet country living.
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Major roads, the Blue Bus, pueblos and Santa Fe
The community is car-dependent except for the fare-free Blue Bus, which picks up passengers from a stop on the side of SR-76. The bus stop is less than a mile from most Rio Chiquito homes, and the route goes from the Española Transit Center, about 11 miles west of Rio Chiquito, to Las Trampas San José de Gracia Church, an example of 18th-century Spanish Colonial architecture, about 14 miles northeast. Southwest of Rio Chiquito, SR-503 intersects with U.S. Route 84, which passes the Nambé, Pojoaque and Tesuque pueblos, Native American settlements of Tewa-speaking people. Santa Fe, the state capital, is about 30 miles south of Rio Chiquito.
The SR-503 Cundiyo Rd runs through the peaceful Rio Chiquito valley.
NCRTD offers convenient bus service near Rio Chiquito homes.
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Businesses are to the west, in Chimayó or Española
The area is known for traditional arts. Close to Rio Chiquito, Centinela Traditional Arts specializes in Rio Grande-style weaving, like striped blankets. Oviedo Carvings and Bronze is a gallery focusing on Southwestern and contemporary sculpture and wood carvings. The commercial section of Chimayó is on SR-76, several miles west, with businesses like Family Dollar, the Red Chile Tavern. About a mile south of SR-76 is Rancho de Chimayó, an award-winning restaurant established in 1965 in a century-old adobe building. Española, about 10 miles farther on SR-76, has a Food King grocery store, a Walmart Supercenter and a variety of shops and restaurants. The Española Farmer's Market takes place on Mondays from June through October.
Red Chile Tavern serves up local flavor close to Rio Chiquito.
Centinela Traditional Arts preserves Rio Chiquito's rich weaving traditions.
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Recreation at Santa Cruz Lake or the Chavez Senior Center
The Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area is several miles south of most Rio Chiquito homes. Recreational activities include fishing, boating, hiking and camping. The Benny J. Chavez Senior & Community Center in Chimayó offers art, wellness and recreational programming.
The Rio Grande also crosses through the center of Española and is a popular spot for fishing.
Benny J Chavez Community Center hosts events near rio Chiquito year-round.
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Española Public Schools district serves students living in the area
Kids may attend schools in the Española Public Schools district, which has an Indian Education department serving students from area tribes. Chimayo Elementary School, for kindergarten through sixth grade, earns a C grade from Niche. Carlos F. Vigil Middle receives a C-minus, and Española Valley High School has a C-plus. Española won the Division 2-4A Football Championship in 2022 and 2023.
Chimayo Elementary School offers a strong academic foundation for K–6 students.
Children can attend Carlos F. Vigil Middle School which scores a C-minus from Niche.
Espanola Valley High has many sports programs and clubs for students to join.
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The Chimayo Museum hosts cultural and community events
The Chimayo Museum and the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association promote New Mexican culture and folk art through education and activities. Events include the San Isidro Day Celebration in May, which includes a blessing of an acequia, or traditional water irrigation ditch, followed by a procession and seed plantings. The museum's Summer Fiesta is in June, and the A la Máquina Tractor and Farm Equipment Show is in July.
Discover local history at the Chimayo Museum near Rio Chiquito.
The Chimayo Museum embraces the rich history and culture of Chimayo near Rio Chiquito.
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Chimayó pilgrimage site brings over 300,000 visitors each year
The Santuario de Chimayó is a well-known site for Catholic pilgrims, who travel by foot to its historical 19th-century chapels and a pit of holy dirt called el pocito. Those coming from Albuquerque walk for over 70 miles. Traffic can be a concern, particularly during the Easter Holy Week, when tens of thousands of pilgrims are on the roads. Motorists should expect delays during that time. Over a year, it's estimated that the site brings over 300,000 visitors to Chimayó.
Each Spring, thousands of people pilgrimage to the centuries old, El Santuario de Chimayó.
Rio Chiquito is about 10 minutes away from the historic Santuario de Chimayo.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Andres Serna,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Santa Fe Regional
63 min drive
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Andres Serna,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
127
Median Age
46
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$48,749
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$74,106
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.2%
College Graduates
21.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.3%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
58.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
15''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
41''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
21/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
