Census-designated place · New Mexico

Agua Fria, New Mexico

Agua Fria, census-designated place, in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Agua Fria had 2,913 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,898 (±701). GEOID 3501220.

Residents, 2020 Census

2,913

Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 2,898 ±701

Median household income

$65,101

±$38,573 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059

Median home value

$270,400

±$97,619 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100

Median gross rent

$1,158

±$287 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067

Where is Agua Fria and what county is it in?

Agua Fria is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. It covers 2.4 square miles of land, 1,202 residents per square mile in 2020.

Agua Fria is in the Santa Fe, NM metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Agua Fria (marked with a dot) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Agua Fria, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 2,913 residents in Agua Fria, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 2,898 (±701).

The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Agua Fria is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Agua FriaSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,898 ±701 156,105 2,120,246 no clear change
Households 1,355 ±325 70,767 837,414 no clear change
Average household size 2.14 ±0.30 2.17 2.48 no clear change
Housing units 1,471 ±343 78,834 956,964 no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Agua Fria?

The median resident of Agua Fria is 39.6 years old; 24.4% are under 18 and 11.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 77.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 21.1%. 18.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Agua FriaSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median age 39.6 ±8.2 48.7 39.4 no clear change
Under 18 years 24.4% ±9.9 pts 16.1% 21.7% –
65 years and over 11.5% ±5.3 pts 28.0% 19.3% –
Male 41.1% ±8.8 pts 48.8% 49.7% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 77.5% ±11.3 pts 47.9% 48.4% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 21.1% ±11.4 pts 44.0% 36.0% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.5 pts 0.8% 1.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.5 pts 1.4% 1.6% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.5 pts 2.4% 8.5% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.5 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.4% ±1.5 pts 2.9% 3.1% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.5 pts 0.5% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 18.9% ±7.9 pts 12.1% 9.4% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 49.3% ±14.1 pts 30.4% 31.3% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 5.3% ±4.0 pts 6.8% 7.9% –
With a disability 13.4% ±5.2 pts 15.3% 17.0% –
No health insurance coverage 15.3% ±7.3 pts 8.9% 9.6% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 80.4% ±9.1 pts 91.8% 88.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 13.6% ±7.1 pts 46.1% 31.0% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.8% ±3.9 pts 23.9% 13.9% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 97.4% ±2.4 pts 89.6% 88.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.7% ±2.0 pts 3.4% 3.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Agua Fria earn?

Half of Agua Fria's 1,355 households earn less than $65,101 a year (±$38,573), against $79,071 in Santa Fe County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $50,706 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Agua FriaSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $65,101 ±$38,573 $79,071 $64,059 no clear change
Mean household income $83,142 ±$26,893 $111,940 $88,155 –
Per capita income $39,460 ±$16,043 $52,207 $36,218 no clear change
People below the poverty line 25.3% ±12.8 pts 12.0% 17.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 41.5% ±31.1 pts 17.8% 24.0% –
Households receiving SNAP 25.2% ±11.7 pts 11.0% 19.2% –
Households with a computer 89.9% ±6.1 pts 94.6% 93.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 77.9% ±9.1 pts 90.1% 86.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Agua Fria?

Owners occupy 42.4% of Agua Fria's occupied homes and renters 57.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $270,400 by its owner (±$97,619). The median renter pays $1,158 a month including utilities, and 36.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Agua FriaSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $270,400 ±$97,619 $446,300 $248,100 no clear change
Median gross rent $1,158 ±$287 $1,389 $1,067 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 36.1% ±21.5 pts 43.4% 41.7% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,596 ±$455 $1,911 $1,564 –
Owner-occupied homes 42.4% ±12.7 pts 71.5% 70.0% −19.2 pts
Renter-occupied homes 57.6% ±12.7 pts 28.5% 30.0% –
Housing units 1,471 ±343 78,834 956,964 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±7.1 pts 0.5% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±5.3 pts 4.6% 5.9% –
Single-family detached homes 23.3% ±9.7 pts 62.7% 64.5% –
Mobile homes 49.6% ±15.5 pts 13.2% 15.5% –
Built 2020 or later 5.4% ±4.9 pts 1.8% 1.4% –
Built 2010 to 2019 6.3% ±4.2 pts 8.2% 8.4% –
Built 1939 or earlier 0.0% ±2.8 pts 6.4% 4.4% –
Households with no vehicle 5.5% ±5.0 pts 4.2% 5.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Agua Fria work and get to work?

54.4% of Agua Fria's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 25.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Agua FriaSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 69.1% ±7.9 pts 57.3% 57.8% –
Unemployment rate 7.9% ±6.1 pts 5.3% 6.0% –
Drove alone to work 54.4% ±15.0 pts 68.1% 73.6% –
Carpooled 20.8% ±11.9 pts 8.4% 9.9% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±2.8 pts 0.8% 0.6% –
Walked 0.0% ±2.8 pts 2.3% 1.9% –
Worked from home 19.9% ±17.1 pts 18.4% 12.2% –
Mean travel time to work 25.2 min ±4.1 23.8 min 23.5 min +6.5 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Agua Fria?

No census tract lies mostly in Agua Fria; 3 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Agua Fria, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Agua Fria
Tract 12.02Santa Fe County6,135 $42,473 $268,20029%
Tract 12.07Santa Fe County3,243 $70,500 $372,60022%
Tract 12.03Santa Fe County2,859 $95,285 $230,60020%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Agua Fria) · Census block assignment files

How does Agua Fria compare with other places in New Mexico?

Agua Fria ranks 50th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Agua Fria's rank in New Mexico (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population (ACS 2020-2024)63rd153
Residents per square mile26th155
Median household income50th143
Per capita income40th154
Median home value43rd138
Median gross rent27th114
Poverty rate43rd109
Bachelor's degree or higher104th128
Median age77th154
Owner-occupied share148th150
Travel time to work67th150

Agua Fria's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)

Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare Agua Fria with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Agua Fria?

20 of the 57 figures for Agua Fria on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Agua Fria are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.