$510,697Average Value$378Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Remote Santa Fe artist colony filled with turquoise mines and Old West saloons
Set 26 miles south of Santa Fe, amid rolling savannas, Los Cerrillos has hardly changed since it boomed as a mining town in the late 1800s, and the artists who call it home prefer it that way. “It’s a three-by-four-street village with rail tracks, Galisteo Creek, two shops, a church and a saloon — that's all it is and all it needs to be,” says Todd Brown, president of the Cerrillos Historical Society, El Vadito Water Association and Las Candelas Community Organization. Los Cerrillos came into prominence in 1879 when prospectors found silver, turquoise and lead in its desert hills; while it quickly grew with upscale saloons, an opera house and the Santa Fe Railroad, it just as quickly became a ghost town when mining halted in the early 1900s. Over time, Los Cerrillos’s low prices and location on the Turquoise Trail highway have attracted a small collection of creative spirits inspired by the community’s natural desert spaces, remoteness and Old West allure. Paul Seftel, a local artist and owner of Seftel Gallery in Los Cerrillos, explains, “Like Madrid and other communities on the Turquoise Trail, it feels like we get to choose how we live out here. Everyone here is very intelligent and creative and forward-thinking, but we also live among old saloons and abandoned mines and farms with llamas and chickens. It’s not for everyone, but that’s part of what makes it special for us who love it.” Los Cerrillos also scores a 1 out of 10 on the CAP Crime Index, lower than the national average of 4.
While a small town, Los Cerillos takes big pride in it and its history.
Seftel Galley is one of the many popular art galleries around Los Cerillos.
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Remodeled Old Western abodes and custom-built Santa Fe homes
Homes here are surrounded by dirt roads and mature elm trees, and the tall cross of the century-old Saint Joseph Church can be seen from around the neighborhood. Most homes are Northern New Mexico-style built between the 1940s and ‘80s, though many have been remodeled to resemble Mission-style buildings from the Old West. “What happens a lot is that film crews will pay people to remodel the outside of their house for Western movies, and people like to say yes to money,” Brown explains. These houses have one to two bedrooms, and common features include tan stucco exteriors, pitched metal roofs, and either coyote fencing or Mission-style adobe walls; lots are 1/4-acre to 1/2-acre and prices range from $330,000 to $415,000. Custom-built Santa Fe-style homes from the 1980s have similar acreage, with gardens, chicken coops and patio spaces; common features include flat roofs, adobe exteriors and exposed wooden beams called vigas. These homes range from $530,000 to around $1.1 million, with larger lots more centrally located in town fetching higher prices. Custom-built Santa Fe-style homes from the 2000s can also be found on sprawling lots among Los Cerrillos’ hills and woodlands, often with barns and stables; lots range from about 40 to 100 acres, and prices range from $625,000 to $1.8 million. In the hills, undeveloped parcels of around 1 to 4 acres range from $45,000 to $195,000.
You will find historic buildings around Los Cerillos, most of them are still in use or homes.
You will find very unique home styles scattered around Los Cerillos.
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Old-timey saloons, turquoise museums and art galleries
Los Cerrillos is over 16 miles from the nearest grocery store, a Walmart Supercenter in Santa Fe; for Seftel, though, this is part of the community’s appeal. "There’s definitely a pioneering spirit here," he says. "It might not be easy to get eggs, but getting them from your neighbor’s coop down the street is something we look forward to." There are a few locally owned businesses strewn along Main and First streets. Set in a rambling, 28-room adobe building, the Casa Grande Trading Post triples as a petting zoo, a museum documenting the history of Cerrillos’ mines, and a gift shop filled with antique bottles and turquoise jewelry. “Five of us still have claims to mine here, so I get to mine my own turquoise for the shop,” says Brown, the Trading Post’s proprietor. Cerrillos Station also triples as an art gallery selling paintings and books by local artists, a gift shop filled with Southwest-themed curios, and a hair salon. Often busy with locals hosting jam sessions, Mary’s Bar has been family-owned for over 75 years, and the Black Crow Saloon’s creaky wooden furniture and rustic bar sets an Old Western scene for breakfast and dinner. “The saloon feels like a lovely collection of all the artists who live here," Seftel says. "It’s just a really special place."
Los Cerrillos residents can head to Cerillos Station a great shop providing many services.
Black Bird Saloon is a classic western saloon that has been in Los Cerillos since the 1880's.
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Santa Fe Public Schools near Los Cerrillos
Local kids can attend Santa Fe Public Schools, including the Amy Biehl Community School at Rancho Viejo, which serves Kindergarten through Grade 6 and earns a B-minus from Niche, and Milagro Middle, which scores a C-minus. At the A-minus-rated Santa Fe High, students can volunteer for the school newspaper, “The Demon Tattler,” or choose from over 15 after-school clubs, including boxing and hiking.
Amy Biehl Community School at Rancho Viejo has a B- grade from Niche.
Santa Fe students can enroll in the newly built Milagro Middle School.
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Historic mines and horseback riding in the Cerrillos hills
Los Cerrillos is surrounded by rolling savannas and centered on the lush, dry riverbed of the Galisteo Creek. On the town’s northern edge, the 1,100-acre Cerrillos Hills State Park stretches across desert hills studded with juniper trees and centuries-old silver mines. “I can open my door with my toddler strapped to me and go walk in the hills," Seftel says. "It’s really one of the best parts of living here.” Over 5 miles of trails weave through the park’s hills, open to hikers, leashed dogs, cyclists and horseback riders. Around 3 miles west, the Garden of the Gods is home to tall sandstone hoodoos (rock spires), and Origami in the Park invites visitors to walk around a desert garden decorated with tall origami statues of pegasusses and butterflies.
Cerillos Hills State Park is a great stop with hikes to old mines.
The State Park Visitor Center sits in the middle of town and provides history on Los Cerillos.
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Holidays, community events and burro races in Cerrillos
The Las Candelas Community Organization sets up events for Los Cerrillos throughout the year. “We get Santa on a fire truck during the holidays and do a whole bunch of fun events like that,” Brown explains. “Fiesta de Los Cerrillos is a big one, with live music and arts and crafts people, but the really special one is the donkey race at the park.” The Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race sees joggers tow a pack-laden donkey through 6 miles of Cerrillos Hills State Park’s hiking trails and woodlands. “It starts in the town," Brown says, "and let me tell you, it’s really quite something to see a bunch of donkeys head into the hills like that."
The Turquoise Trail and North Central Regional Transit buses
The scenic Turquoise Trail highway runs through the center of Los Cerrillos, leading 26 miles north to Santa Fe, and 50 miles south to Albuquerque. Although Los Cerrillos’ remoteness renders it car-dependent, residents can take North Central Regional Transit District buses from the Los Cerrillos Post Office to the City Different. The closest hospital, CHRISTUS Saint Vincent Regional Medical Center, is 23 miles north, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport is19 miles north.
Finding water in the desert
Los Cerrillos relies on its El Vadito Water Association for clearance and guidance on water rights. Brown, the association’s president, explains, “We used to have a dam that stored water underground, but everyone between us and Santa Fe has a well that’s lowered its water levels. We now have a shared well by the creek that’s a little alkaline-y, but we’re happy for it. It cost $20 a month to join the association, plus additional usage fees.”
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Anna Vanderlaan,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Cerrillos Hills State Park
Bike Trails
Picnic Area
Trails
Transit
Airport
Santa Fe Regional
30 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Los Cerrillos
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Los Cerrillos, Cerrillos sell after 17 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Los Cerrillos, Cerrillos over the last 12 months is $524,500, up 62% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Old West charm abounds in this light filled home just outside of Cerrillos. The original parts of the building are believed to date to 1900, and many vintage details remain intact, including the wood floors and high, stamped metal ceilings. A lower level addition with banks of south facing windows brings in light and solar gain in winter, while mini-splits cool in summer. Outdoor spaces are
Cerrillos off Highway 14: This 1.3 acre lot fronts on both 14 and on Goldmine Road, and wraps around 3112 NM 14, so it's just to the East of the units at the bottom of Goldmine off 14. (That property is for sale, listing # 202501500, and this lot might be a nice addition to a purchase.) Cerrillos Community water is in the area, which Buyer may apply for. Electricity is near and access is a paved
Affordability and income just outside of Cerrillos. On the south side of Goldmine road, you'll find a charming one bedroom, one bath adobe, approximately 900 square feet. This cozy home was just renovated with new metal roof, new windows, new flooring, new water heater, new paint, two mini-splits, light fixtures, vintage cook stove, electrical work, and double glass front doors, Private
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Anna Vanderlaan,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
23
Median Age
56
Population under 18
17.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
39.1%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,500
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$36,727
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
55.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
16.7%
% Population in Labor Force
47.4%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
10''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
20''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
7/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
