Rio Communities is a city in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. Prior to its incorporation on May 16, 2013, it was a census-designated place (CDP). As of the 2020 census, Rio Communities had a population of 4,926. Rio Communities was developed by the Horizon Corporation, who sold undeveloped land. The Federal Trade Commission eventually ordered Horizon to pay money to the buyers due to false and misleading ads.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Rio Communities ranks

All →

#13Most trails in NM #15Lowest depression in NM #21Fastest growing in NM All NM rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Rio Communities

Housing in Rio Communities

$271K▲ 2.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Rio Communities home is worth about $271,000, up 2.5% in a year, 15% below the New Mexico typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Rio Communities

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Rio Communities for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Albuquerque (43%), Belen (13%) and Los Lunas (9%). Half commute less than 31 miles.

Albuquerque

43%

Belen

13%

Los Lunas

Santa Fe

4%Work in townlive and work in Rio Communities 31 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 359Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Rio Communities →

Health in Rio Communities

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 82% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with New Mexico

3better than NM·7worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 22 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 7▼ 4 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

9.7%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethNM 14.2% · better 78.6%More adults treating high blood pressureNM 73.3% · better 4.6%More adults who have had a strokeNM 3.8% · worse

Care nearby

VA New Mexico Healthcare SystemAlbuquerque · 29.2 mi · ER

Fcch/Belen CenterBelen · 3.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Rio Communities · CMS · HRSAHealth in Rio Communities →

Natural hazards in Rio Communities

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes

1Does Rio Communities flood?paid flood claims since 1988 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Rio Communities

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Rio Communities →

Climate in Rio Communities

Full climate →

Rio Communities has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

54° / 23°Winter

75° / 39°Spring

93° / 60°Summer

74° / 40°Fall

How much snow does Rio Communities get?About 5 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 21, with the last in spring around Apr 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Rio Communities →

Schools in Rio Communities

All Rio Communities schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Rio Communities’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 51% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictBELENSchools1

La Merced ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–6 · 463 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NM. Ratings are from neighbors.