The Town FilesTaos, New Mexico
Town in Taos County · population 6,474 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $445,900
- Household income
- $47,304
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 53.7
Taos is a town of 6,474 people in Taos County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $445,900, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks hipper than 98% of New Mexico towns, better for cycling than 96% of New Mexico towns, better transit than 84% of New Mexico towns.
How Taos ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Taos is worth $445,900, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 9.4 times the median household income of $47,304, which is more affordable than 2% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 59.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Taos | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,900 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $883 | $916 |
| Median household income | $47,304 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.3% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.1% | — |
Who lives in Taos
| People | Taos | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.0% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 82.9% |
Weather in Taos
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 12.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Taos since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 22, 1961.
Severe weather in Taos County since 1996
Taos County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 24, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1962: Severe Winter Storm And Extreme Cold Temperatures |
| August 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1659: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Taos County
Taos County had 11,075 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,377 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Taos itself the ACS puts it at 10.6%.
Public schools in Taos
10 public schools with 2,387 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAOS HIGH | 9-12 | 763 | 15.6 |
| ENOS GARCIA ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 362 | 10.6 |
| TAOS MIDDLE | 6-8 | 344 | 10.1 |
| TAOS ACADEMY (charter) | 5-12 | 247 | 16.5 |
| TAOS MUNICIPAL CHARTER (charter) | K-8 | 211 | 11.7 |
| TAOS INTEGRATED SCHOOL OF ARTS (charter) | K-8 | 205 | 12.1 |
| TAOS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 176 | 11.0 |
| VISTA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 67 | 9.6 |
| TAOS CYBER MAGNET | 9-12 | 12 | — |
| CHRYSALIS ALTERNATIVE | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Taos
- Ranchos de Taos, NM2.1 mi · 2,707 people · home $349,700
Taos questions
Is Taos, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Taos scores better for retirees than 75% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 50%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.7).
How much does a house cost in Taos?
The median owner-occupied home in Taos is valued at $445,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,304, so homes cost about 9.4 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Taos?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.4 inches of snow.
Does Taos get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Taos in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)