A town of 10,473, settled in 1880. Healthier than 69% of U.S. towns.
The 3 things Española does most differently from other towns.
Be the first to start the conversation.
Nothing on the calendar.
Ordered by what stands out in Española. Another town gets a different order.
Española beats the New Mexico average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10.
| What stands out | Española | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.6% | 7.4% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 5.8% | 6.6% |
| More uninsured adults | 22.9% | 15.6% |
6.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Valdez Park | — | 10 |
| 2. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park | — | 4 |
The public schools Española’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 94% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eutimio Salazar Elementary | PK–6 | 339 | Not graded |
| James Rodriguez Elementary | 1–6 | 233 | Not graded |
| Los Ninos Elementary | PK–K | 71 | Not graded |
| Holy Cross Catholic School Private | PK–8 | 60 | |
| Carlos F. Vigil Middle | 7–8 | 379 | Not graded |
| Espanola Valley High | 9–12 | — | Not graded |
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities.
Española has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Most working residents leave Española for work: only 18% work in town. The top destinations are Los Alamos (22%), Albuquerque (14%) and Santa Fe (13%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
Española's reported crime rate is well below New Mexico's. 41 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
The typical Española home is worth about $348,000, up 5.6% in a year, 9% above the New Mexico typical home.
18 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 3 places on the National Register.
3 places in Española on the National Register of Historic Places.
11 notable people were born in Española.
City in the United States
Española is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Founded as a railroad village, it was named Española, with a post office established in 1881, and officially incorporated in 1925. It has been called the first capital city in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was at 10,526. Española is within the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area. The city is home to Northern New Mexico College.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Española.
