Caldwell vs Santa Fe
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $367,300 in Caldwell and $444,900 in Santa Fe.
- Santa Fe gets far more snow: 20 inches a year vs 10.
- Caldwell has more scorching days: 59 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 24.
- Caldwell is growing faster: +27.4% since 2020 vs +2.7%.
- Commutes are shorter in Santa Fe (21 vs 25 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Caldwell, ID | Santa Fe, NM | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 76,629 | 89,837 |
| Growth since 2020 | +27.4% | +2.7% |
| People per square mile | 3,049 | 1,720 |
| Median age | 31.5 | 46.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $73,058 | $73,482 |
| Median home value | $367,300 | $444,900 |
| Home value to income | 5.0× | 6.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,264 | $1,463 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.4 | 98.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 105.6 | 108.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,800 | $74,100 |
| Homeowners | 73% | 64% |
| Top state income tax | 5.3% | 5.9% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.03% | 7.68% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.6 | 21.0 |
| Work from home | 12% | 17% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5% | 5.1% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 12.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 40° / 23° | 43° / 18° |
| July high / low | 93° / 57° | 86° / 55° |
| Precipitation per year | 11 in | 13 in |
| Snowfall per year | 10 in | 20 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 59 | 24 |
| Nights below freezing | 132 | 168 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Low | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 71.7 | 86.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 50% | 78% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +25.7% | +42% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Caldwell: May to June and September. Santa Fe: June to September.
Full monthly tables: Caldwell weather by month and Santa Fe weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,800 in Caldwell and $74,100 in Santa Fe. Moving from Caldwell to Santa Fe, you would need about $75,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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