Located 7 miles from downtown Albuquerque, South Valley is a rural, unincorporated area with plenty of room to spread out. “It’s the type of place where you can be close to the city atmosphere, but have a ranch mentality,” says Nancy Kennedy of RE/MAX Exclusive, who has worked in the Albuquerque area for over three decades. “A lot of the people living there wake up to roosters and have little mini farms that they take care of.” Being unincorporated means fewer restrictions on what locals can grow and what types of animals they can have on their properties, plus fewer building codes and no HOAs. A census-designated place, South Valley is conveniently located along Interstate 25 and has a population of 37,500.
South Valley has a population of 37,500.
A local dancing troupe performs at the 1st Annual Luminito Celebration.
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Homes with room for extra vehicles
The median price for a single-family home in South Valley is $296,000. Houses range from modern Craftsman homes with stucco siding to midcentury brick ranch-styles. “Most of the homes are on at least half an acre,” says Kennedy. “People have room for their work trucks, RVs and even room to keep horses if they want to.” Since South Valley is unincorporated, about two-thirds of the homes are on septic tanks. The eastern edge of town gets some noise from Interstate 25, but most roads are quiet.
Discover the unique charm of desert-themed yards in Near South Valley.
Find serenity in homes with beautifully landscaped desert yards in Near South Valley.
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Hiking Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
South Valley residents enjoy New Mexico’s natural landscape for outdoor recreation. “It’s absolutely beautiful here, and I go hiking almost every Saturday,” says Kennedy. “The Rio Grande runs right through town and people are always fishing out there.” The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in the southeast part of town is tons of hiking trails and space for horseback riding. Mountain bikers head to the Paseo del Bosque Trail, runs 16 miles along the Rio Grande. Organized sports are also a staple in South Valley. “Baseball, softball, soccer; there is always some big tournament at one of the parks,” Kennedy says.
Locals gather together to enjoy Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.
A conservation group meets at Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge near Meadow Lake.
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Albuquerque Public Schools
Kids in South Valley attend Albuquerque Public Schools, a massive district with a B-plus grade on Niche. The district serves nearly 80,000 students and has an 18-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The main high school in South Valley is Rio Grande High School, which has a C-plus rating. The University of New Mexico, the state’s largest university, has 25,000 students and is located just up the road in Albuquerque.
Fostering educational excellence and community at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque.
Promoting educational growth at Polk Middle School.
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Shopping at South Valley Growers Market
South Valley is rural, so shopping and dining options are limited. The area has big-box stores like Walmart, Ross Dress for Less and Ulta Beauty along Coors Boulevard. Other major chains are available for groceries along Isleta Boulevard. There are a handful of Mexican restaurants scattered across the area, but most locals will head north to Albuquerque for more shopping and dining opportunities. “The one nice thing is the South Valley Growers’ Market,” says Danielle Powell of Realty One New Mexico, who has nearly two decades of experience in the area. “All the food is so fresh, and the live music is great.”
Driving along Interstate 25
South Valley is 7 miles away from Albuquerque, accessible via 2nd Street. It’s also 6 miles from Albuquerque International Sunport, which has flights across the United States and beyond. Interstate 25 runs south to Las Cruces or north to Denver and beyond. Rio Metro and ABQ RIDE buses provide local transport throughout Albuquerque and all of Bernalillo County.
Interstate 25 highway near San Jose.
Highland Business roads are linked to Interstate 25, which is the quickest way for locals to get to Santa Fe.
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Dry, mild climate
South Valley experiences a mild, dry climate; temperatures reach the low 90s in the summer and the 20s in the winter. The area receives about 10 inches of rain per year.
Follow the serpentine path of the Rio Grande River in Rose View Acres.
Friends gather to fish at Tingley Beach.
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Written By
John Moyer
Photography Contributed By
John Williams
Video By
Timothy Cerva
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Talia Freedman,
an experienced agent in this area.
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