$505,854Average Value$174Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Indigenous and Hispanic village between Santa Fe and Los Alamos
Around 20 miles north of Santa Fe on the Los Alamos Highway, El Rancho is a Hispanic farming village within the San Ildefonso Pueblo area. The community dates back to the 1300s, when Indigenous peoples moved from the Jemez Mountains to the Pojoaque Valley to farm using its rivers and streams. Today, El Rancho maintains its quiet, rural lifestyle, which is reflected by its CAP Crime Index Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. Many are drawn to the village’s balance of a slow pace of life and proximity to the Los Alamos Laboratory, New Mexico’s top employer; however, its pastoral setting among desert spaces and mountain views continues to inspire the area’s Indigenous artists, who are famous for their black-on-black pottery style. Chris Webster, an art dealer and CEO of Webster Enterprises in Santa Fe, works with such artists. “It was so interesting to go from the world of North Carolina where I’m from to a world of Spanish farming history and dancing ceremonies and knowing people who were famous potters and art workers."
Northern New Mexican and manufactured homes with acreage
Set along narrow dirt roads, El Rancho’s homes are surrounded by vast desert spaces and mature elm trees. All sit on acreage backing up to the Pojoaque River, which locals use for small-scale farms, detached art studios and fruit orchards; most also have water rights to private wells or acequias (irrigation ditches). Northern New Mexico-style homes from the 1960s to 2000s run the gamut here; common features include bright stucco exteriors and colorful metal roofs. Most of these homes have three-bedroom layouts, and they range from $450,000 for homes on quarter-acre lots with acequias to $620,000 for those with over an acre and a private well. Manufactured homes from the 1980s and ‘90s are also common here, often featuring three-bedroom layouts, pitched roofs and attached car ports. Water rights and lot size similarly impact prices for mobile homes, which range from $375,000 to $460,000.
Manufactured homes line the small streets of El Rancho.
El Rancho is a small neighborhood popular for it's affordability and charm.
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Historic mountainsides and scenic waterfalls nearby
Desert plains, juniper-pinyon woodlands and scenic mountain ranges surround El Rancho, all with long histories tied to the First Nations who reside here. Around 25 miles west, the Bandelier National Monument spans over 33,000 acres across the Jemez Mountains, where ancient pueblos lived in dwellings etched into the mountainsides. “The Pojoaque are the same people who lived in those cliff dwellings before moving to the river valley, which is why they call themselves the Pojoaque, meaning ‘water gathering place,’” Webster says. Around 16 miles east, the Nambe Falls are tiered waterfalls that flow down from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains; visitors can camp at the Nambe Falls and Recreation Area’s wooded campgrounds. The Pojoaque Valley Recreation Complex also sits 4 miles east, its 11 acres featuring turf fields for baseball and soccer.
Mountain views from El Rancho.
Native American Art on display in El Rancho.
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Shopping and dining in the Pojoaque Pueblo
Although El Rancho has a handful of businesses like Santa Fe Ironworks and Designs, most locals head 4 miles west to central Pojoaque for shopping and dining. There, the Pojoaque Supermarket covers grocery essentials, and every Wednesday from May to November at the Poeh Cultural Center, the Pojoaque Farmers Market features fresh produce and animal products. Folks can grab New Mexican breakfast food at the Sopaipilla Factory or find a quick bite to eat from the area’s numerous fast-food offerings like Starbucks and McDonalds. The Santa Fe Plaza’s famous dining scene also awaits residents 20 miles south; there, folks can find anything between the upscale Spanish-Mediterranean joint La Boca and the rich chocolate elixirs of Kakawa Chocolate House.
A woman buys delicious produce locally, at the Pojoaque Farmers Market.
Pojoaque Super Market is a close to home grocery store serving the needs of El Rancho.
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Pojoaque Valley School District
Local kids can attend Pojoaque Valley Schools, including Pablo Roybal Elementary, which earns a B from Niche and serves Kindergarten through Grade 3. They can continue to C-rated Pojoaque Valley Intermediate for Grades 4 and 5, followed by B-minus-rated Pojoaque Valley Middle for Grades 6 through 8. At C-rated Pojoaque Valley High, they can join engineering and film clubs.
Pojoaque High School
Pojoaque Middle School is located near Pojoaque.
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Los Alamos Highway and Highway 285 convenience
The Los Alamos Highway forms El Rancho’s southern border, leading to Los Alamos 14 miles west; the roadway also intersects with Highway 285 around 4 miles east, which runs to Santa Fe 20 miles south. The Espanola Hospital is 14 miles north, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport is 29 miles south.
Living near San Ildefonso and Pojoaque
Being on the outskirts of the San Ildefonso and Pojoaque Pueblos, El Rancho residents need to be mindful of these First Nations' rules and regulations, says Webster. "When you're in a pueblo, you're really in a different nation, and it's their way or the highway." Non-members of the pueblos are not allowed on pueblo ground after sunset and before sunrise; additionally, pueblo services like Native fire and police departments only serve areas within their respective reservations.
Eagle art in front of the library near El Rancho.
The El Rancho community center is a community hub enjoyed by all.
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
David Horpedahl,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Las Conchas Trailhead
East Fork Trailhead
San Diego Canyon Trail Overlook
Ashley Pond
Fuller Lodge Park
Manhattan Project National Historical Park
Urban Park
Loma Linda Park
Los Alamos Project Main Gate Park
Transit
Airport
Santa Fe Regional
42 min drive
El Rancho Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in El Rancho, Espanola sell after 103 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in El Rancho, Espanola over the last 12 months is $364,900.
Nestled in the heart of Northern New Mexico, this traditional 2-bedroom, 2-bath home offers living space filled with natural light, flagstone floors, vigas and latillas and a woodburning kiva fireplace. An additional office with separate entrance adds the private space necessary for work from home buyers. The second story has been used as the primary bedroom with living area, private bath and a
This property offers tranquility, country living close to the city, and endless potential, with an ideal location of being centered between Los Alamos, Santa Fe, and Espanola. The peaceful feeling experienced here is unequaled. A well maintained 2 bed, 2 bath manufactured home awaits for you and your dreams. This Property has its own private well, and its own septic tank making it very desirable
This beautiful modular home, nestled among lush cottonwoods, offers a serene escape with ample privacy on just under 1.5 acres. Surrounded by plenty of space for your dream projects in both the back and front yards, there is ample parking for several vehicles and recreational. A separate 10x10 storage shed can hold home items, hobbies, and work tools. It is perfectly situated near the river and
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Horpedahl,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,067
Median Age
46
Population under 18
20.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.5%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$68,365
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$96,692
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.1%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
25.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.8%
% Population in Labor Force
61.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
17''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
21''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
24/ 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.
