Jacona's development was influenced by water access
Jacona is a community in the Pojoaque Valley, with backdrops of the Jemez Mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. A rural part of Santa Fe County, the area has open land and rivers, like the Pojoaque and the Tesuque. Water access has influenced development. "We're a desert, so people built near water, where the green, deciduous trees are," says David Horpedahl, a qualifying broker and owner of Los Alamos Properties. "Take a look at a map and if you see a river, generally a half mile on each side had a traditional village." Farming villages and Native American pueblos, or settlements, are important to the region.
The Pojoaque River threads the valley near Jacona, supporting farms and wildlife.
Jacona in the Pojoaque Valley blends village traditions with mountain backdrops.
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Pueblo-style and ranch-style homes, though few on the market at a time
The residential parts of Jacona are mostly north of state Route 502, known as the Los Alamos Highway. Side roads are narrow and often unpaved, and many properties are enclosed within adobe-style walls or rustic fencing made of tree branches. Lots over an acre are common. Pueblo-style homes feature stucco exteriors, covered patios, traditional kiva fireplaces and exposed interior beams called vigas. There are also some ranch-style homes. Though few properties are on the market at a time, the average home value is about $720,000. The range for estimated values is about $340,000 to $1.4 million, with square footage, lot size and condition factoring in.
Rural Jacona homes often feature stucco exteriors and kiva fireplaces.
Custom homes in Jacona sit on spacious lots amid arroyos and acequias.
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Pueblo of Pojoaque holdings and the Jacona Land Grant
Properties in Jacona may be on private claim land within the holdings of the Pueblo of Pojoaque or part of the Jacona Land Grant, which dates to the 1700s when the King of Spain designated ownership. "Buyers own the land and will get a survey of what they own, which will be labeled," Horpedahl says. A home lot can differ from the land a driveway occupies, which might need to be leased from the Pueblo.
Acequia-fed fields and long-running farm practices remain part of Jacona.
Jacona offers space and quiet on acre-plus lots in Pojoaque Valley.
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An environment with arroyos, acequias and high elevation
Arroyos, which are naturally formed water channels, remain dry for much of the year. Flash flooding is possible, depending on rainfall. Centuries-old acequias, or manmade irrigation ditches, allow water flow control using sluices. The number of properties with water rights and access to acequias has dwindled over time as land has been subdivided.
Those moving to Jacona should be aware of its high elevation: about 5,800 feet above sea level. According to Horpedahl, some people acclimate to the altitude fairly quickly, but others may have related health concerns. "One guy flagged me down and said, 'I need to sell my house.' I said, 'When?' He said, 'Today, I can't live at this altitude.' He moved out the next day and went back to Texas, where it was basically sea level."
The Pojoaque Valley Recreation Complex, outdoor and indoor activities
About a mile east of Jacona is the Pojoaque Valley Recreation Complex, which has fields used for Little League and soccer. The county has made recent improvements, including installing synthetic turf to reduce water use. There's no shortage of outdoor recreational opportunities in the area, from foothills hiking to river fishing. About 13 miles southeast of Jacona is Nambé Falls; people hike, kayak and camp in this area.
People visit the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino and the Cities of Gold Casino for gaming. Cities of Gold also has a bowling center, Strike Gold Lanes.
Family-friendly Jacona sits near the Pojoaque Valley Recreation Complex and rivers.
Nambé Falls drops from the Sangre de Cristo foothills about 13 miles from Jacona.
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Pojoaque has the closest shopping and dining, and a cultural center
Though some people travel to Santa Fe for a greater concentration of retail and restaurants, Pojoaque is a closer option. The Pojoaque Supermarket has grocery essentials, and the Sopaipilla Factory Restaurant serves authentic New Mexican cuisine.
Also in Pojoaque is the Poeh Cultural Center, which focuses on Tewa Pueblo culture. It offers classes and activities and hosts the Pojoaque Farmers Market on Wednesdays from May to November. The market is held indoors at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino the rest of the year.
Pojoaque Supermarket stocks grocery essentials close to Jacona.
Poeh Cultural Center in Pojoaque highlights Tewa Pueblo culture with classes and exhibits.
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The Pojoaque Valley district has five schools on two campuses
Pojoaque Valley Public Schools has five schools divided between two campuses, about 3 miles apart. Pablo Roybal Elementary School, a kindergarten through third grade school, earns a B grade from Niche. For fourth and fifth grades, there's Pojoaque Intermediate School, which receives a C. The Sixth Grade Academy has a C-plus, and Pojoaque Valley Middle School has a B-minus. Pojoaque Valley High School has a C-plus and offers sports including football, soccer, basketball and bowling. Those first two schools and the high school are on the Jacona campus, whereas the academy and middle school are on the Pojoaque campus.
Pablo Roybal Elementary School is set in the high desert.
Students can attend Pojoaque Valley High which earned a C rating from Niche.
Pojoaque Intermediate School can be seen here with the beautiful Jemez Mountains in the distance.
Students can attend Pojoaque Valley Middle which scores a B-minus from Niche.
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Santa Fe and Los Alamos commutes and area bus service
Car-dependent Jacona is in an opportune spot for commuters, as it's about 17 miles north of Santa Fe and 16 miles east of Los Alamos , the site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which employs over 16,000 people. The Presbyterian Española Hospital is about 11 miles to the north, in Española. State Route 502 runs through Jacona before intersecting with U.S. Route 84 to the east. North Central Regional Transit District buses stop on SR-502. The Santa Fe Regional Airport, about 26 miles from Jacona, offers flights to hubs such as Denver , Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth.
Written By
Robin Silberman
Photography Contributed By
Marcus Yzaguirre
Video By
Vladislav Sedykh
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INCREDIBLE FIND - 0.75 acre property w/quality dream home and separate 1,206 sq ft workshop building w/3 garage doors (up to 6 car tandem). Found just 20 minutes from either Santa Fe plaza or Los Alamos National Labs in the coveted & fertile Pojoaque valley complete w/irrigation water rights. Special features of the home incl: new roof (installation 9/2025), newly painted interior & exterior,
INCREDIBLE FIND - 0.75 acre property w/quality dream home and separate 1,206 sq ft workshop building w/3 garage doors (6 car tandem). Found just 20 minutes from either Santa Fe plaza or Los Alamos National Labs in the coveted & fertile Pojoaque valley complete w/irrigation water rights. Special features of the home incl: new roof (installation 9/2025), newly painted interior & exterior,
INCREDIBLE FIND - 1.5 acre property w/quality dream home, 1,206 sq ft workshop, and included 0.75-acre parcel zoned for either residential, commercial, or agricultural. Found just 20 minutes from either Santa Fe plaza or Los Alamos National Labs in the coveted & fertile Pojoaque valley complete w/irrigation water rights. Special features of the home incl: new roof (installation 9/2025), newly
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