Living in Taos, NM
Small town in New Mexico
Taos is a small town in New Mexico, home to about 6,468 people, with 26,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Taos a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Low taxes: about $1,191 state income tax per resident, 0.35% property tax
- Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Mild summers: highs around 85°F
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 26,000 people live within 31 mi
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Taos ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Taos: common questions
What is the cost of living in Taos?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $585k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,590 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 92, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Taos?
New Mexico collects about $1,191 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.35% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Taos safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.8× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Taos?
Taos has cold winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 85°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.
Does Taos get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.38 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Taos?
The nearest major airport is ABQ, about 108 mi away.
How Taos scores
Each bar compares Taos with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Taos right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.