HomeNew MexicoTaos County
Taos County, New Mexico: commercial real estate data.
Taos County, New Mexico had an estimated 34,482 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,491, across 2,203 square miles. County output reached $1.52 bn in 2024, 1,083 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 24 7(a) approvals worth $21.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Taos County
How many people live in Taos County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,543
- Households15,549
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$58,950
- Median age52.6
- Median gross rent$1,034 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$382,800
- Home value to household income6.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,201
- Population under 185,400
- Share under 1815.6 percent
- Population 65 and over10,539
- Share 65 and over30.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6418,604
- Civilian labor force16,446
- Unemployment rate7.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.4 percent
- Rank by population among New Mexico counties14th of 33
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1350th of 3,222
Taos County is the 14th largest of 33 New Mexico counties by population. A median home costs 6.5 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 30.5 percent against 15.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Taos County
Is Taos County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202434,482
- Census 2020 base population34,491
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.03 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-2
- Births, 2024227
- Deaths, 2024398
- Natural change, 2024-171
- Net domestic migration, 20246
- Net international migration, 2024167
- Total net migration, 2024173
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024441
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1836th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.03 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Taos County
Where are people moving to Taos County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving910
- People arriving, from those returns1,342
- Tax returns filed by households leaving784
- Net household movement126
- Adjusted gross income arriving$82.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$37.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$90,485
- Average income of a leaving household$56,823
- Largest single originBernalillo County (89 households)
- Largest single destinationBernalillo County (108 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | 89 | 132 | $4.1 m |
| Santa Fe County | 70 | 95 | $2.9 m |
| Rio Arriba County | 39 | 70 | $1.5 m |
| Los Angeles County | 22 | 32 | $3.8 m |
| Denver County | 21 | 32 | $2.5 m |
Households arriving report $33,662 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Bernalillo County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Taos County
What is the Taos County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.52 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.7 percent
- GDP change over five years52.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Mexico areas BEA publishes14th of 33
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1507th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,026
Output grew 6.7 percent in the latest year and 52.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Taos County
Employment by industry in Taos County
- Covered employment, annual average11,075
- Establishments reporting1,449
- Average annual pay$45,377
- Average weekly wage$873
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,965
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,978
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,766
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,297
- Retail trade, employment1,588
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,238
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment909
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$34,397
- Construction, employment562
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment386
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,965 | 150 | $27,978 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,766 | 174 | $53,297 |
| Retail trade | 1,588 | 189 | $34,238 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 909 | 43 | $34,397 |
| Construction | 562 | 143 | $58,406 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 386 | 73 | $54,308 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 280 | 157 | $68,506 |
| Educational services | 258 | 40 | $53,861 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,965 jobs, 17.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Taos County
How many businesses are in Taos County?
- Establishments, all industries1,083
- Employment at those establishments9,460
- Annual payroll$350.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents31.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Taos County
Building permits in Taos County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024127
- Declared construction value permitted$40.6 m
- Single family units authorized125
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units1.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$319,840
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.2
Single-family homes are 98.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Taos County
SBA loans in Taos County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded24
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$877,167
- Median 7(a) approval$335,350
- 10th percentile approval$24,720
- 90th percentile approval$1,989,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)242
- Jobs per approval10.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals15
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer45.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals8.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (6)
- 504 approvals recorded12
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.0 m
- Average 504 approval$332,083
- Median 504 approval$369,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.5
- Most active CDCCapital Certified Development Corporation (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$25.0 m
The average approval of $877,167 sits well above the median of $335,350, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 45.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Taos County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Taos County
Do SBA loans in Taos County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure14
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Taos County
SBA lending by place in Taos County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Taos, approvals12
- Red River, approvals6
- El Prado, approvals4
- Questa, approvals1
- Ranchos de Taos, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Taos | 12 | $14,168,500 |
| Red River | 6 | $5,251,900 |
| El Prado | 4 | $1,521,600 |
| Questa | 1 | $90,000 |
| Ranchos de Taos | 1 | $20,000 |
Taos accounts for 12 approvals against 6 in Red River. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Taos County
How large is Taos County?
- Land area2,203 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Mexico counties26th of 33
- Width, east to west46.5 mi
- Height, north to south67.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land16
- Establishments per square mile0.49
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Taos County
Flood risk in Taos County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Taos County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 350078
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Taos County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Taos County (community 350078), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Taos County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Taos County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Taos County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202434,543
- Households15,549
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$58,950
- Median age52.6
Common questions
Taos County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Taos County, New Mexico?
The Census Bureau estimates 34,482 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 34,543, in 15,549 households, ranking 14th of 33 New Mexico counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Taos County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.03 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,491, to 34,482 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 227 births against 398 deaths, with net migration of 173. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Taos County?
$58,950. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $382,800, which is 6.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,034 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Taos County?
1,083 establishments, employing 9,460 people with an annual payroll of $350.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Taos County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,965 jobs, 17.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,075 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,377, or $873 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Taos County?
24 7(a) approvals totaling $21.1 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $335,350, plus 12 504 approvals worth $4.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Taos County?
127 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $40.6 m. Multifamily was 1.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Taos County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Taos County come from?
The largest single origin is Bernalillo County, with 89 households. Arriving households report an average income of $90,485 against $56,823 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Taos County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Taos County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Taos County
Cities and places in Taos.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Taos County. All 17 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taos | town | 6,458 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Ranchos de Taos | CDP | 2,536 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Questa | village | 2,466 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Arroyo Seco | CDP | 2,112 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Taos Pueblo | CDP | 1,129 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Talpa | CDP | 955 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Peñasco | CDP | 546 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rio Lucio | CDP | 485 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Costilla | CDP | 450 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Red River | town | 450 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Chamisal | CDP | 300 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vadito | CDP | 264 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| San Cristobal | CDP | 203 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Arroyo Hondo | CDP | 74 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Taos Ski Valley | village | 65 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Picuris Pueblo | CDP | 50 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ojo Caliente | CDP | 0 | None recorded | 79.1 percent here, 20.9 percent Rio Arriba County |
A further 4 of the county's 24 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Taos County, the largest being El Prado (4). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.