'The Hub City' is a historical railroad town south of Albuquerque
Approximately 30 miles south of Albuquerque, Belen earned its nickname "The Hub City" as the center of New Mexico's railroad operations in the early 1900s. The historical rail yard is still active as one of the largest in the state, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) is one of Valencia County's biggest employers. Belen also has access to Interstate 25 and state Routes 116, 309 and 314. WIth a population of about 7,500, the city's CAP Index crime score is 4 out of 10, which matches the national average.
Belen has agricultural land and open space and retains some aspects of traditional, rural culture. East of Belen is the Rio Grande River and the center of the Manzano Mountains range. "If you like a culture of solid values and a little slower, more relaxed way of life, you'll find that here in Belen," says Chris Cantrell, a Realtor with MORE Realty Inc. "Belen has a lot to offer someone who doesn't want big city life, but likes being able to get to downtown Albuquerque in 30 or 40 minutes."
Belen nicknamed the "Hub City" surrounds the busy rail system.
BNSF Railroad has been rolling on Belen's tracks for over 100 years.
The name Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem.
The mighty Rio Grande runs through historic community of Belen.
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Belen's Industrial businesses and convenient commutes
Belen's economy is focused around industrial companies, including manufacturing and transportation businesses. Many people commute north to Los Lunas or Albuquerque. Driving is one option, with I-25 and SR-314 as convenient routes. Additionally, the Belen station is the last stop on Rio Metro's New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter line. It should be noted that quiet zones created by the Federal Railroad Administration limit the use of train horns approaching public crossings. "One of the big things about Belen is that you get a lot for way less than in surrounding areas that also have train access. Like Los Lunas," says Brooke Freshman, an associate broker with K2 Omni Group. Jobs in Los Lunas include those at the Amazon fulfillment center, Meta's Facebook data center, Walmart and Niagara Bottling. Getting to big employers around Albuquerque include Sandia National Laboratories, the University of New Mexico and Kirtland Airforce Base.
Downtown Belen, the Main Street Arts & Cultural District
Belen's downtown Arts & Cultural District has been designated as a certified MainStreet Community by the State of New Mexico and the National MainStreet Center. As such, it incorporates public and residential spaces with independent businesses, schools and houses of worship. The city and the Belen MainStreet Partnership have supported improvements in part through façade grants. Highlights include the transformation of a vacant building that became Books on Becker. The nonprofit community bookstore is associated with the Friends of the Belen Library.
The Harvey House Museum, which is a branch of the Belen Public Library, highlights the history of the Southwest and Belen's growth as a transportation hub. "Belen was very agricultural until the railroad boom came through, and back in the day, the Harvey House served as a nice place for folks traveling by train to dine or stay," Cantrell says. The Harvey House was a lodging and dining establishment in the early 20th century, known for employing single young women called Harvey Girls. The Harvey Girls were well-regarded for their high hospitality standards.
Belen's Historic Arts District is adorned with quirky metal sculptures.
Harvey House Museum offers guided tours and a great cafe.
The Belen Public Library provides locals a great place to check out new books.
Books on Becker is a perfect spot for bookworms in Belen for grabbing new and used books.
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Shopping and dining in Belen, from locally owned shops to chains
Many of Belen's locally owned shops and restaurants are on North Main Street or around the downtown district. By the Rail Runner Station, there's Hub City Brewing Company, a historical rail café. Hub City has a game room and hosts various events. For more shopping and eateries, there's the area along I-25. "You're going to find a lot of chain restaurants and stores, but with some local options in between," Freshman says. Small shopping centers and more businesses are found along SR-309, running east of Main Street.
Penny's Dinner offers delicious food and a step back in time in it's 50s themed dinner.
Enjoy fresh baked goods and other treats at Belen's Panaderia which is Spanish for bakery.
Enjoy a coffee while shopping for boutique gifts and goods at Farm to You.
The Rail Cafe is also Hub City Brewing, a great stop for Belen residents on the weekends.
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Eagle Park is 75 acres, Anna Becker Park hosts Art in the Park
Eagle Park is one of Belen's main outdoor gathering spots. "You'll see families in the park hosting birthday parties or having special gatherings, and the grounds are very well taken care of by the city," Cantrell says. The park has soccer, basketball, tennis and softball facilities. A skatepark was added in the summer of 2024. Anna Becker Park offers the Art in the Park market event on alternating Saturdays, seasonally.
Eagle Park offers soccer, basket courts, grass, playgrounds and even a skate park.
Pack a lunch and enjoy some fresh air at Eagle Park in Belen.
Artists have the chance to sell their work at Art in the Park held in Anne Becker Park.
Residents enjoy relaxing at the quaint Anne Becker Park.
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Our Lady of Belen Fiestas, the World's Largest Matanza and more
Our Lady of Belen Fiestas is a multiday celebration in mid-August that features a parade and lowrider car show down Main Street, mariachi music, food and carnival rides. Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church hosts the event, which has been held for over 230 years and now brings crowds of over 10,000.
There are numerous other events, such as the World's Largest Matanza, put on by the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County. The celebration of culture, music and food includes a cooking competition, and proceeds go toward college scholarships for county students. The St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rallye at Eagle Park has hot-air balloons, kites, a car show, food trucks and vendors. The Hummingbird Festival in April celebrates springtime with vendors and a car show. Plus, the Valencia County Fair is held at the end of the summer.
Ranch-style, Southwestern and manufactured homes
The median home price in Belen as of early 2025 is $269,000, about 25% lower than the median in Albuquerque and 41% lower than the national number. Ranch-style homes are common, and there is some contemporary and Pueblo-style architecture. Southwestern elements include stucco finishes and desert hues. "There's a lot of old-school culture in the way homes were built here," Cantrell says. "It can almost feel like you're stepping back in time." Single-family homes range from about $175,000 to $400,000. On the low end of the price range are manufactured homes, about $60,000 to $300,000.
West Belen is known for open desert space and larger lots. The master-planned community of Los Chavez is about 6 miles north of downtown Belen. Approximately 4 miles to the east, on the other side of the Rio Grande, is Rio Communities, which was incorporated as a city in 2013 and now has a population approaching 5,000. The Tierra Del Sol Golf Club in Rio Communities is open to the public.
A popular home style in Belen is the traditional ranch style home.
Golfers in Belen can enjoy a round of 9 or 18 at the nearby Tierra Del Sol Golf Club.
Single story, pueblo style homes are common in the heart of the Belen neighborhood.
Mobile homes are popular in Belen because of the lower cost while retaining large lots.
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Public schools in the Belen Consolidated School District
The Belen Consolidated School District (BCSD) earns a C-plus grade from Niche. It has an assortment of elementary schools, Belen Middle School and Belen High School. In 2023, the high school boys' wrestling team won the 4A state championship. Alternative public schools for BCSD include Infinity High School, which is focused on credit recovery and graduation, and Belen Family School, which connects homeschoolers in first through eighth grades.
Belen Middle School provides students a secure environment for them to learn in.
Belen High School excels in providing excellent sports programs for students.
Belen Family School gives residents an additional option for schooling.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
