$472,731Average Value$232Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A farming village and Sikh commune between Santa Fe and Los Alamos
Around 23 miles north of Santa Fe in the Española Valley, Sombrillo is historically a small Spanish farming village from the 1600s, but over time, it’s become one of the largest majority Sikh communities in the country. “There were a lot of communes that started north of Santa Fe in the 1960s,” says Chris Webster, a Santa Fe local and CEO of Webster Enterprises, “and a lot of hippies — some of them my friends — came up through there. Yogi Bhajan decided he was going to start this commune in Sombrillo, and though he’s since passed and some of his followers have left, more have come to take their place.” The golden dome of the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Gurdwara shines in the community’s center, and the Sikh-run Akal Security — one of the largest security firms in the country — operates from a collection of small adobe buildings beside the temple.
Though many continue to move to Sombrillo to join its deep-rooted Sikh community, others are drawn to its proximity to the Los Alamos National Laboratory 24 miles west, the Catholic farming cultures of the Española Valley, and the boundless natural spaces surrounding the village. As local Associate Broker with Realty One of New Mexico Alicia Hicks puts it, “We’re set in the southern end of the Rocky Mountains, with great hunting, fishing and off-roading. It’s a true outdoorsman’s place.”
Sombrillo
Sombrillo
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Northern New Mexico- and Santa Fe-style compounds
Strewn along aptly named roads like Walnut Circle and Old Orchard Lane, Sombrillo’s homes sit amid small-scale farmlands and garden spaces fed by the Santa Cruz River and local irrigation ditches called acequias. Northern New Mexico-style homes from the 1980s to 2000s are common, often featuring pitched metal roofs and earth-toned stucco exteriors. Most are set large lots that range from a half acre to 3 acres, using the ample space to form family compounds with private wells and guest houses called casitas; prices range from $235,000 to $625,000, depending on lot size.
Santa Fe-style homes from the 1980s to 2000s are also available, often custom-built with features like stucco exteriors, flat roofs and exposed wooden beams called vigas. Set on 1 to 2 acres with gardens and desert grasslands, these homes range from $330,000 to $755,000, depending on lot size.
This two story home in Sombrillo sits atop a hill overlooking the lush valley below.
Homes in Sombrillo can be found on large lots with plenty of room between neighbors.
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High above the desert lies the Valles Caldera, an 89,000-acre depression in the Jemez Mountains.
Desert spaces, mountain lakes and meadows nearby
Sombrillo is surrounded by natural desert spaces and mountain views. “When you head out this way, you see these amazing sandstone rock formations that look like they’re straight from Mars,” Webster says. Immediately south of Sombrillo, the La Puebla Recreation Area’s sandy trails wind over desert hills between juniper trees and hoodoos (tall rock spires). Santa Cruz Lake 12 miles east is fed by the icy waters of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains; visitors can take non-motorized boats to the water, fish for its bountiful cutthroat trout or camp atop the sheer cliffs overlooking the lake from the south. Nearly 37 miles west, the Valles Caldera is an 89,000-acre depression in the Jemez Mountains, filled with green valleys, babbling brooks and groves of aspen trees. “It’s such an experience going from the white sands of the desert to the meadows in Valles Caldera, which is the best place to go stargazing in New Mexico,” Hicks says.
Shopping and dining in Española and Chimayo
Although residents can catch movies at the Dreamcatcher 10 theater or take yoga classes at Hacienda Yogo within Sombrillo, Hicks says most head to Española 3 miles west for shopping and dining. “The Center Market there is where you get the best local produce,” Hicks explains. “They have also have a great Española Farmers Market where all the local growers sell chiles and fruits from their orchards.” The Treasures of Enchantment thrift store here is stocked with the community’s passed down goods, and Chimayo Rocks sells exactly that — polished rocks and gemstones from the Chimayo area. Around 8 miles east in Chimayo, Sombrillans can also grab a bite to eat at the famous Rancho de Chimayo. “The outside of the restaurant is draped in dozens of ristas, which are these chains of dried red chiles all tied to a string,” Webster says. “Their signature drink, the Chimayo Cocktail, made it into Mr. Boston’s Official Bartender’s Guide. Its base is apple cider made from the apples Chimayo is known for, and the glass’s rim is coated with this delicious cinnamon sugar and an apple wedge instead of a lemon peel.”
Sombrillo
The Center Market nearby offers locally sourced produce and other groceries.
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Española Public Schools
Española Public Schools all offer trilingual services in English, Spanish and Tewa, catering to the historic Hispanic farming villages and Native American pueblos that surround Sombrillo. Tony E. Quintana Elementary sits right in the community and earns a C-minus from Niche. Carlos F. Vigil Middle scores a C-minus and offers free out-of-school educational services through the 21st Century Community Learning Program. C-plus-rated Española Valley High won the Division 2-4A Football Championship in 2023.
Children can attend Carol F. Vigil Middle School which scores a C-minus from Niche.
C-plus-rated Española High offers trilingual programs in English, Spanish and Tewa.
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Easy commutes to Santa Fe and Los Alamos
Sombrillo sits on Highway 285, connecting to Santa Fe around 23 miles south; the highway also leads 3 miles north to New Mexico State Road 30, which runs to Los Alamos 24 miles west. Although locals rely on cars to get around, North Central Regional Transit District buses make stops along Santa Cruz Road and at the Dreamcatcher 10 theater. The Española Hospital sits 4 miles west, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport is 23 miles south.
Sombrillo
The popular Santa Fe Plaza & St. Francis Cathedral are located less than 30 minutes away.
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The Easter Pilgrimage to Chimayo
Although Sombrillo is known for its large Sikh community, the greater Española Valley is rooted in Hispanic Catholic cultures dating back to the 1600s. These roots are expressed by the annual Easter Pilgrimage to Chimayo, held the week before Easter, when tens of thousands of people walk to the centuries-old Santuario de Chimayo to be blessed by the sacred healing dirt of its sacristy. “Lots of people will park in places like Sombrillo and make the pilgrimage from there, but you’ll see people walking all the way from Santa Fe or Albuquerque with 20-foot-tall crosses strapped to their backs,” explains Webster. “Many believe the dirt of the sacristy to have healing properties, so people with injured legs will bring their crutches, have dirt rubbed on them, and throw their crutches into the dirt pit, believing they will be healed.”
Each Spring, thousands of people pilgrimage to the centuries old, El Santuario de Chimayó.
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Sikh culture and safety
Sombrillo's overall CAP Crime Index score is of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average score of 4. "Defending the defenseless is huge in Sikh culture, so it's no wonder why Akal Security was able to start here," Webster says. "Many Sikhs practice in martial arts and are required to carry kirpans (religious curved daggers), so they take safety and security very seriously."
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Caroline Van Steen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Santa Fe Regional
46 min drive
Bus
Dreamcatcher Theater
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Sombrillo
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sombrillo, Espanola sell after 61 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Sombrillo, Espanola over the last 12 months is $416,780, down 16% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Custom Move-in-Ready, Single-Level, Southwestern-Style Home on 0.736 Acres! 2558 sq ft, 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath, Large Studio with Separate Entrance, Vaulted Wooden Tongue and Groove Ceilings, Skylights, Kiva Fireplace, Landscaping with Fruit Trees and Watering System, Backs to Organic Farm, Close to BLM Hiking Trails, Newer Roof (2022) Under Warranty, Water Filtration System, Cooling, and More! This
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Caroline Van Steen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
547
Median Age
42
Population under 18
23.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
23.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$44,317
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,443
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
83.9%
College Graduates
13.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
58.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
17''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
21''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
15/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
3/ 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.
