$625,791Average Value$517Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Santa Fe’s hub for dining, history and the arts
Downtown Santa Fe is the fittingly eclectic heart of the City Different, with authentic Pueblo buildings, ornate churches and myriad New Mexican museums and eateries. “The architecture here belongs to a long history of Native American and Hispanic cultures," says Lise Knouse, a Santa Fe local and Broker Owner with Keller Williams Realty, "but the downtown area really has a European feel to it, with all the little coffee and book shops, the walkability and the lack of skyscrapers.” Downtown Santa Fe is set in the northeastern corner of the city, centered around the Historic Santa Fe Plaza, a small greenspace surrounded by shopping centers, art galleries and centuries-old historic sites; nearly all buildings here are under two stories tall, preserving downtown's views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. Despite its vibrant commercial, tourist and art scenes, Downtown Santa Fe maintains a low-key vibe, with most restaurants and bars closing by 9:00 p.m. “It’s something a lot of people don’t expect, but a lot of things close early because people are in bed even earlier — at least I know I am,” laughs Alina Catanach, a Santa Fe local and Qualifying Broker with Las Campanas Realty.
This statue depicting Zozobra celebrates its 100th year in Downtown Santa Fe.
Downtown Santa Fe is also home to the IAIA, representing American Indian Art.
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Santa Fe’s haven for foodies and shoppers
The City Different’s famous dining scene is centered in Downtown Santa Fe, and for local Berkshire Hathaway broker Mark Rochester, the neighborhood has the best restaurants in the world. “I used to trade horses all over the world, but Santa Fe takes the cake for best foodie scene, hands down,” Rochester explains. Coffeehouses like Cafe Pasqual and the Plaza Cafe invite locals to enjoy breakfast while overlooking the Plaza, but Tia Sophia’s is the most popular morning spot for its breakfast enchiladas. As the evening settles, diners line up outside the Shed, a popular Southwestern restaurant set in an 18th-century hacienda. There are dozens of boutiques and retailers throughout the area, most specializing in Native American and Hispanic artwork or Southwestern-inspired clothing; some are set in shopping centers on the Plaza, while most, like the popular bookstore Collected Works, stand on their own. Along the Palace of the Governors’ arcade, Native American artists regularly sell jewelry, small sculptures and more. Every Saturday, the Santa Fe Farmers Market is held in the neighboring Railyard Arts District, and grocery stores like Sprouts Famers Market are found in the DeVargas Center just north.
You will find many outdoor patios to enjoy your meal around Downtown Santa Fe.
You will find amazing shopping around Downtown Santa Fe like in the Santa Fe Arcade.
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Museums, historic churches and more
Museums, performance centers, and historic monuments also surround the Santa Fe Plaza. Museums include the Palace of the Governors History Museum, which documents the history of the nation’s oldest capital, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which showcases the artwork of the Santa Fe-based painter. The 1931 Lensic Performing Arts Center hosts concerts and plays year-round, and the Saint Francis Auditorium at the New Mexico Museum of Art hosts performances by the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, as well as local schools. “My kids got to perform there once when they were little," Knouse says, "which feels so very special because of the beautiful murals and architecture there.” There are several historic churches here, including the 17th-century Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, whose Romanesque spires can be seen from the Plaza.
The historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi stands tall in Downtown Santa Fe.
Downtown Santa Fe is home to the Loretto Chapel and its famous Miraculous Staircase.
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Century-old Santa Fe homes and casitas
Along Downtown Santa Fe’s tree-shaded streets and brick sidewalks, a handful of single-family homes are scattered among the community’s businesses and museums; all are traditional Santa Fe-style homes from the 1870s to 1930s, featuring three to five bedrooms, colorful wood molding, flat roofs supported by exposed beams called vigas and tan stucco or adobe exteriors. According to Knouse, these homes rarely become available due to their limited supply and the area's popularity of the area. When they do come up for sale, they usually range from $1.2 million to $1.6 million based on their proximity to Santa Fe Plaza; however, historically significant homes can go for $3.8 million to $4 million, depending on their age. Homeowners here must submit an application to the City of Santa Fe Historic Preservation Division before making any renovations to their homes. On Paseo de Peralta and in the gated community of El Corazon, detached condos called casitas have two- or three-bedroom layouts and range from $1 million to $1.4 million.
The homes around Downtown Santa Fe keep the historic feel of the neighborhood.
The unique home styles keep a quirky flair to Downtown Santa Fe.
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Fiestas de Santa Fe
Held in Downtown Santa Fe every fall, the Fiestas de Santa Fe has commemorated Diego de Vargas’ conquering of the City Different since the 1700s. The week-long event series kicks off with a procession taking La Conquistadora — a centuries-old doll of the Madonna and Child — from the Cathedral Basilica to Rosario Church just north of the neighborhood; masses are then held there for a week as arts and crafts markets and pet parades are held at the Santa Fe Plaza and across downtown. The Fiestas end with the Burning of Zozobra, which sees a 50-foot-tall puppet burnt to the ground at Fort Marcy Park as a metaphor for starting a new year without the burdens of the previous one.
You will find many artists selling their goods around the Fiesta de Santa Fe.
Residents line the streets of the plaza to celebrate the Fiesta de Santa Fe.
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The Santa Fe Plaza and church-side greenspaces
Densely shaded with cottonwood trees, the Santa Fe Plaza’s park space is always busy with picnickers lounging in the grass, dog walkers crossing through, and folk musicians playing in its center. Standing in the shadow of the Cathedral Basilica, Cathedral Park is a small greenspace inviting visitors to lounge under tall pine trees or walk among monuments dedicated to Santa Fe’s first Spanish colonists in the 1600s. De Vargas Park on the eastern edge of downtown features a skate park, a grassy field and access to the nearly 10-mile Santa Fe River Trail.
The central fountain at Cathedral Park is the most popular feature of the park.
De Vargas Park is a great area and the start of walking paths around Downtown Santa Fe.
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Walkable streets and nearby interstate access
“Even with all the amazing things at the Plaza, people will move here specifically for the walkability,” says Paige Cochran, an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Realty. Clearly signaled crosswalks, bike lanes and sidewalks along every street make the downtown area easy to walk and bike around; Santa Fe Trails buses also make stops throughout the area. Paseo de Peralta skirts the neighborhood, intersecting northeast with Artist Road and southeast with Old Pecos Trail. Saint Francis Drive is found less than a mile west, turns into Route 84 just north, and connects 5 miles south with Interstate 25. The CHRISTUS Saint Vincent Regional Medical Center is around 2 miles south, and the Santa Fe Regional Airport is 15 miles west.
An array of Santa Fe Public Schools
Downtown Santa Fe is split into three elementary school zones: Wood-Gormley Elementary, which earns an A-minus from Niche, and Carlos Gilbert Elementary and Acequia Madre Elementary, each of which earns a B-plus. Milagro Middle, rated C-plus, offers courses for English-language learners, and at A-minus-rated Santa Fe High, students can volunteer for the student-led newspaper, “The Demon Tattler.”
Wood-Gormley Elementary School provides local students a safe place to thrive.
Students can attend Santa Fe High School, which received an A minus from Niche.
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
Victor Ortega,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Cathedral Park
Hillside Park
Skate Park
Railyard Water Tower
De Vargas Park
United States Court House Park
Santa Fe River Park
Stations Of The Cross Prayer Garden
Prince Park
Transit
Airport
Santa Fe Regional
21 min drive
Bus
Guadalupe & Montezuma Ib
Bus
Paseo De Peralta & E Palace Avenue
Bus
Cerrillos & Read
Bus
Capitol
Bus
E Alameda Street & Cathedral Place
Bus
Sandoval & Alameda Ob
Bus
Guadalupe & Alameda Ib
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Santa Fe
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Santa Fe, Santa Fe sell after 118 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Downtown Santa Fe, Santa Fe over the last 12 months is $690,786, consistent with the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Own a deeded fractional interest in the heart of Santa Fe, just a 5-minute walk to the historic Plaza, top restaurants, galleries, and shopping. This is not a timeshare—you’re guaranteed 4 weeks per year, with the option for more based on availability. Just pay a cleaning fee when you stay.Enjoy luxury amenities, concierge service, and the ability to exchange time through the Hyatt Vacation
Luxury Fractional Ownership Steps from the Plaza.Experience the charm and elegance of Santa Fe with hassle-free ownership at El Corazón de Santa Fe, a premier Five-Star gated residence in the heart of downtown. This exclusive 1/8 deeded fractional ownership in Unit 60—a stunning two-story Montana model—offers a luxurious and affordable way to own a vacation home just steps from the historic
Make your dream of spending Christmas and New Year's in Santa Fe a reality every year with this rare opportunity to own a fractional share in a Boutique Historic Timeshare Residence. Offering fixed weeks 51 and 52 annually, this property allows you to enjoy the magic of the season in one of the most sought-after locations in Santa Fe.Perfectly situated near the historic Santa Fe Plaza, this
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Victor Ortega,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
493
Median Age
69
Population under 18
5.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
56.6%
Significantly above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$93,452
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$115,443
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97%
College Graduates
60%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
38%
% Population in Labor Force
18.7%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
55/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
81/ 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.
