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Tierra Contenta

Tierra Contenta

Neighborhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe County 87507

$453,572 Average Value
$304 Average Price per Sq Ft
24 Homes For Sale

Master-planned Santa Fe suburb with area-affordable housing

Around 13 miles southwest of Downtown Santa Fe, Tierra Contenta is a mixed-used, master-planned suburb known for area-affordable housing, family-friendly amenities and Jemez Mountain views. “What really makes Tierra Contenta stand out to me," says Daniel Huberman, a local Realtor with Santa Fe Realty Unlimited, "is that it’s offering homes that are affordable to good, regular people like teachers and police officers within the city limits.” Established in the 1990s, Tierra Contenta aims for 40 percent of its homes to be affordable to those earning 80 percent or less of Santa Fe’s median income. Parks, schools and libraries are scattered among the homes here, and proximity to the Santa Fe Regional Airport and Veterans Memorial Highway attract people from across the city. “It’s really one of the most convenient places to travel from in Santa Fe, because the highway lets you bypass all the traffic downtown,” Huberman says. Tierra Contenta scores a 3 out of 10 on the CAP Crime Index, lower than the national average of 4.
The convenient and safe community of Tierra Contenta is best known for its affordable housing.
The convenient and safe community of Tierra Contenta is best known for its affordable housing.
A row of Santa Fe Style townhomes found in Tierra Contenta.
A row of Santa Fe Style townhomes found in Tierra Contenta.
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Turn-of-the-century Santa Fe-style homes and townhouses

Set along winding, sidewalk-lined streets, Tierra Contenta’s homes are surrounded by desert plantings and cottonwood trees. All are Santa Fe-style homes from the 1990s to 2020s, set on compact lots with manicured gravel gardens, juniper trees for privacy and short driveways; common features include tan stucco exteriors, flat roofs and bright wood molding around windows and doors. According to Knouse, home layouts here are diverse because of the variety of builders in Tierra Contenta, but most homes have between three and five bedrooms; prices range from $370,000 for a one-story house with three bedrooms to $585,000 for a two-story home with five bedrooms. Attached Santa-Fe-style townhouses from the 2000s to 2020s can also be found here, featuring second-story patios and attached garages. Most have three- or four-bedroom layouts and range from $370,000 to $500,000; newer townhouses tend to be more expensive.
Yucca cacti and a juniper tree adorn the outside of this Santa Fe style home.
Yucca cacti and a juniper tree adorn the outside of this Santa Fe style home.
New houses and townhomes are currently being built in Tierra Contenta.
New houses and townhomes are currently being built in Tierra Contenta.
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Neighborhood parks, greenbelts and golf courses in Tierra Contenta

Tierra Contenta wraps around the semi-private Santa Fe Country Club and its 7,100-acre, 18-hole golf course; while the golf course is public, those who become club members can use the pool and enjoy special events. In the neighborhood’s southwestern corner, the 90-acre SWAN Park features a multi-purpose ballfield, a playground, and an outdoor gym painted with Keith Haring murals. “I live on the opposite side of town and still bring my kids here," Huberman says, "because it has equipment to entertain both toddlers and teens.” The Santa Fe Teen Center opened here in 2023 and invites kids between 12 and 18 years old to enjoy its computer lap, gymnasium and lounge area. Smaller pocket parks like Rancho del Sol Park and Valentine Park are found throughout the neighborhood, their playgrounds and fields surrounded by juniper trees and Little Free Libraries. “They’re all connected by these greenbelts in the neighborhood, so kids can ride their skateboards or bikes to get around,” Huberman says. Around 228 acres of undeveloped land also rests south of Capitol High; although the Tierra Contenta Corporation has plans to develop this area into additional housing units and commercial space, much of it planned to remain a natural space of exposed earth and dry arroyos.
Tierra Contenta residents can easily enjoy the outdoors and hiking trails around the area.
Tierra Contenta residents can easily enjoy the outdoors and hiking trails around the area.
Tierra Contenta
Tierra Contenta
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Public and private Santa Fe schools in the neighborhood

Local kids can attend Santa Fe Public Schools, including Nina Otero Community School, which earns a C-minus from Niche, and Ortiz Middle, which scores a C-minus. Set in the neighborhood, the B-minus-rated Capital High offers bilingual programming for fluency in English and Spanish. The private Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences serves kindergarten through Grade 8, using the Expeditionary Learning Model to encourage experiential education.
Niche has given Nina Otero Community School an overall C- rating
Niche has given Nina Otero Community School an overall C- rating
Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences is also nearby, and uses the Expeditionary Learning.
Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences is also nearby, and uses the Expeditionary Learning.
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Concerts and art classes at SWAN Park and the Southside Library

“SWAN Park is a hub for concerts and small events during the summer months,” Huberman says. Lensic 360’s Summer Scene Series brings artists like Los Flamantes de Chihuahua and Couch to SWAN Park’s green fields, and Movies in the Park invites locals to watch family-friendly films under the night sky. “You also have to pay attention to the Southside Library, because they’re always putting on something in the neighborhood,” Huberman says. The Santa Fe Library’s Southside Branch hosts weekly arts and crafts events like Create with O’Keefe, as well as story time readings for kids and yoga classes for adults.
Murals and unique sculptures are found throughout Tierra Contenta.
Murals and unique sculptures are found throughout Tierra Contenta.
Tierra Contenta's Southside Branch Library is within walking distance to many in the community.
Tierra Contenta's Southside Branch Library is within walking distance to many in the community.
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Convenient to Veterans Memorial Highway and Santa Fe Trails buses

Tierra Contenta sits 13 miles west of Downtown Danta Fe and borders Veterans Memorial Highway; this roadway connects to Interstate 25 around 3 miles south. Although locals need a car to get around the city, they can take to Tierra Contenta’s bike lanes, sidewalks and greenbelts to get around the neighborhood; they can also use Santa Fe Trails buses, which make stops along Paseo del Sol, Jaguar Drive and Country Club Road. The CHRISTUS Saint Vincent Regional Medical Center is 7 miles east, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport sits immediately west of the community; according to Atwell, the Santa Fe Regional Airport is never too loud because it only takes one to two planes at a time.
Tierra Contenta
Tierra Contenta
Tierra Contenta
Tierra Contenta
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Shopping in Southside Santa Fe

“While it’s not in the luxury, famous dining scene of the Plaza, Tierra Contenta is surrounded by an equal number of—if not more—restaurants and retailers than in Downtown Santa Fe,” Huberman says. Less than a mile east, Cerrillos Road is lined with shopping options; the Walmart Supercenter here is the closest grocery store, and the Santa Fe Place Mall further up the road is home to a Regal Theater, Dillard’s and JCPenney. Airport Road borders the neighborhood to the north and is known for its Latino-owned businesses. “It’s almost like Santa Fe’s Little Mexico,” says Steve Atwell, a Santa Fe local and broker with Triad Realty. Less than a mile east on Airport Road, Puerto Peñasco offers taco de carne beside the bodega-bakery hybrid Panaderia Y Tortilleria Sani; the Master Food Truck directly across the street from Tierra Contenta also serves stuffed sopapillas from an apple-shaped truck.
Tierra Contenta
Tierra Contenta
Walmart Supercenter conveniently sits on Cerrillos Road nearby.
Walmart Supercenter conveniently sits on Cerrillos Road nearby.
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Fletcher Varnson
Written By
Fletcher Varnson
Nate Myers
Photography Contributed By
Nate Myers
Jordan Sain
Video By
Jordan Sain

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Tommy Trujillo, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Santa Fe Regional

7 min drive

Bus

Country Club & Valentine Way

Bus

Paseo Del Sol & Bonito Alley Ob

Bus

Paseo Del Sol & Entrada Milagro Ob

Bus

Paseo Del Sol & Chamisa Ob

Bus

Country Club & Camino Rojo

Bus

Jaguar & Avenida Contenta Ib

Bus

Jaguar & Paseo Del Sol West

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Tierra Contenta US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 3 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 3 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Tierra Contenta Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$475,206
Median Sale Price
$455,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$460,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$491,230
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$225,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
98
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$304

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,251
Number of Homes for Sale
24
Median Year Built
2020
Months of Supply
2.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,661
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,971
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
734
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
748
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,356

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Jun 15
    1:30 - 3:30pm

    4405 Contenta Ridge, Santa Fe, NM 87507

    $577,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 1,915 Sq Ft
    • 4405 Contenta Ridge
    • New 15 days ago

    Welcome to this stunning 1,915 square-foot two-story home, perfectly positioned as the last house on a quiet street in desirable Tierra Contenta—offering privacy, peace, and no HOA restrictions. This sun-drenched residence is designed to celebrate the breathtaking beauty of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, with expansive views from every upstairs window and an inviting east-facing deck ideal for

    Agent Photo
    Lise Knouse
    Keller Williams Realty
    (505) 605-7999
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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Tommy Trujillo, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
6,705
Median Age
37
Population under 18
26.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.7%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$67,594
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$83,164

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.3%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
34.7%
Advanced Degrees
14.2%
% Population in Labor Force
76.1%
Above the national average
65.1%

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®

29 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

14 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Tierra Contenta