Taos 65 Good
Taos Livability #49 ranked city in New Mexico#12,910 ranked city in the USARanks better than 55% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Taos

PROS
  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

  • Employment Employment

    This area earns a low score in the employment category due to low household income levels and high unemployment rates, which may pose challenges in seeking job opportunities.

What's it like Living in Taos?

Taos, New Mexico is a small city with a population of 6,117 people. If we look at the most recent Census, Taos is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are American Indian and Alaskan and Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Taos are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 21% of the population also speak Spanish. Based on an average age of 54, Taos appears to be well-suited for seniors or retirees as the average age is well above the national average. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Taos, only 34% of the population is married. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Taos will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 17 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Taos could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New Mexico if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Taos and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Taos to New Mexico and the national average.

The livability score in Taos is 65 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 59th percentile of all cities across America. On a more negative note, Taos does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (D), crime (F), education (D), employment (F) and housing (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Taos is actually affordable. The median home price for Taos homes is $519,036, which is 83.1% higher than the New Mexico average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Taos, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 11.2, which is 166.7% higher than the New Mexico average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Taos

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Taos?

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Compare Taos, NM Livability

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      Taos transportation information

      Statistic Taos New Mexico National
      Average one way commute17min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.1%79.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool2.8%10.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.5%1.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle3.4%0.7%0.6%
      Workers who walk8.8%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home9.3%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The Taos, NM data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.