Zip code 87520: Chama, New Mexico
Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.
About 87520
87520 is a rural zip code in Chama, New Mexico (Rio Arriba County), covering 259 sq mi of land. About 1,148 people live here, or 4 per square mile. The median resident is 65.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.
The median household earns $38,889 a year, about 48% of the national median of $80,734. 14% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $217,600, or 5.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 86% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $570 a month.
22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 9.5 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; cleaning and personal care; and transportation and moving goods. 22% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).
How 87520 compares
- Median age65.499thU.S. 38.9 · NM 39.428th of 314 in NM
- Housing vacancy54.7%99thU.S. 10.1% · NM 12.5%17th of 311 in NM
- 99thU.S. 17.2% · NM 19.3%21st of 315 in NM
- 98thU.S. 10% · NM 10.2%61st of 308 in NM
- Homeownership rate86.2%91stStrengthU.S. 65.2% · NM 70%121st of 311 in NM
- Veterans10.2%90thU.S. 6.2% · NM 7.9%89th of 315 in NM
- Government workers22.2%90thU.S. 14.5% · NM 23.4%172nd of 308 in NM
- 78thU.S. 0.483 · NM 0.47781st of 307 in NM
- Diversity index59.771stU.S. 61.4 · NM 62.745th of 315 in NM
- Poverty rate14%65thU.S. 12.5% · NM 17.8%181st of 311 in NM
- 62ndU.S. 5.2% · NM 6%127th of 309 in NM
- 62ndU.S. 51.1% · NM 50.2%91st of 236 in NM
- Per capita income$39,35448thU.S. $44,673 · NM $36,21881st of 312 in NM
- Work from home11.1%41stU.S. 15.1% · NM 12.2%140th of 307 in NM
- Median home value$217,60025thU.S. $332,700 · NM $248,10099th of 250 in NM
- 25thU.S. 35.7% · NM 31%137th of 315 in NM
- Uninsured rate1.8%4thStrengthU.S. 8.4% · NM 9.6%245th of 312 in NM
- Median household income$38,8893rdWeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NM $64,059207th of 256 in NM
- Median earnings per worker$27,7082ndWeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NM $41,758232nd of 278 in NM
- Population1,1481stU.S. 334,922,499 · NM 2,120,246167th of 315 in NM
- Population density4/sq mi1stU.S. 95/sq mi · NM 18/sq mi217th of 315 in NM
- 1stU.S. $1,413 · NM $1,067154th of 173 in NM
- Average commute9.5 min1stStrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NM 23.5 min231st of 235 in NM
- Broadband access71.5%1stWeaknessU.S. 91% · NM 86.5%228th of 311 in NM
- 1stU.S. 14.1% · NM 9.4%274th of 315 in NM
- 1stU.S. 22% · NM 21.7%260th of 315 in NM
- 1stU.S. 3.8% · NM 2.7%239th of 308 in NM
- 1stU.S. 9.7% · NM 10.3%215th of 308 in NM
| Measure | 87520 | Rio Arriba | NM | U.S. | National percentile | Rank in NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.4 | 42 | 39.4 | 38.9 | 28th of 314 | |
| Housing vacancy | 54.7% | 21.2% | 12.5% | 10.1% | 17th of 311 | |
| Residents 65 and older | 56% | 21.8% | 19.3% | 17.2% | 21st of 315 | |
| Self-employed workers | 21.8% | 7.4% | 10.2% | 10% | 61st of 308 | |
| Homeownership rateStrength | 86.2% | 80% | 70% | 65.2% | 121st of 311 | |
| Veterans | 10.2% | 5.6% | 7.9% | 6.2% | 89th of 315 | |
| Government workers | 22.2% | 40% | 23.4% | 14.5% | 172nd of 308 | |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 0.475 | 0.456 | 0.477 | 0.483 | 81st of 307 | |
| Diversity index | 59.7 | 50.5 | 62.7 | 61.4 | 45th of 315 | |
| Poverty rate | 14% | 18.2% | 17.8% | 12.5% | 181st of 311 | |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 4.9% | 6% | 5.2% | 127th of 309 | |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53.8% | 34.4% | 50.2% | 51.1% | 91st of 236 | |
| Per capita income | $39,354 | $31,887 | $36,218 | $44,673 | 81st of 312 | |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.2% | 15.1% | 140th of 307 | |
| Median home value | $217,600 | $243,700 | $248,100 | $332,700 | 99th of 250 | |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 19% | 31% | 35.7% | 137th of 315 | |
| Uninsured rateStrength | 1.8% | 8.7% | 9.6% | 8.4% | 245th of 312 | |
| Median household incomeWeakness | $38,889 | $57,155 | $64,059 | $80,734 | 207th of 256 | |
| Median earnings per workerWeakness | $27,708 | $41,576 | $41,758 | $49,666 | 232nd of 278 | |
| Population | 1,148 | 40,070 | 2,120,246 | 334,922,499 | 167th of 315 | |
| Population density | 4/sq mi | 7/sq mi | 18/sq mi | 95/sq mi | 217th of 315 | |
| Median gross rent | $570 | $740 | $1,067 | $1,413 | 154th of 173 | |
| Average commuteStrength | 9.5 min | 30.1 min | 23.5 min | 26.4 min | 231st of 235 | |
| Broadband accessWeakness | 71.5% | 75.3% | 86.5% | 91% | 228th of 311 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 0% | 6.3% | 9.4% | 14.1% | 274th of 315 | |
| Residents under 18 | 5.1% | 22.5% | 21.7% | 22% | 260th of 315 | |
| Tech workers | 0% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 239th of 308 | |
| Healthcare workers | 3.7% | 8.3% | 10.3% | 9.7% | 215th of 308 |
The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.
People
Age
Race and ethnicity
- White38%
- Black0%
- Hispanic50%
- Asian0%
- Native American0%
- Pacific Islander0%
- Other9%
- Multiracial3%
Language spoken at home (households)
Households
- Households
- 650
- Average household size
- 1.8
- Family households
- 43.7%
- Married couples
- 38.8%
- Living alone
- 46%
- Veterans (of adults)
- 10.2%
- Male / female
- 50% / 50%
Income and poverty
Household income distribution
Median household income
Housing
Median home value
Median gross rent
Types of housing
- Housing units
- 1,436
- Owner-occupied
- 86.2%
- Vacant
- 54.7%
- Median year built
- 1993
- Median rooms
- 4.7
- Renters paying 30%+ of income
- 53.8%
- Renters paying 50%+ of income
- 0%
- Home value to income
- 5.6× (U.S. 4.1×)
Work and commute
How people get to work
Commute time (one way)
Jobs and careers
Occupations
Industries
Median earnings by type of work
| Type of work | 87520 | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | $88,542 | $74,888 |
| Service | $20,768 | $26,804 |
| Sales and office | $17,946 | $40,476 |
| Construction and maintenance | — | $49,199 |
| Production and transportation | — | $39,989 |
Education, internet and health coverage
Highest education (adults 25+)
- High school graduate or higher
- 83.9%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21.8%
- Graduate or professional degree
- 12.7%
- Households with broadband
- 71.5%
- Cable, fiber or DSL
- 45.2%
- No internet access
- 18.2%
- Without health insurance
- 1.8%
- Limited-English households
- 0%
Geography
- City (USPS)
- Chama
- State
- New Mexico
- County
- Rio Arriba County
- Center point
- 36.8750° N, 106.6273° W
- Land area
- 259 sq mi
- Water area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Time zone
- Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
- Zip type
- Residential delivery area
Zip codes near 87520
| Zip | City | Distance | IncomeMedian income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87551 | Los Ojos, NM | 12 mi | $35,896 |
| 81128 | Chromo, CO | 14 mi | $250,000+ |
| 87528 | Dulce, NM | 15 mi | $41,679 |
| 87575 | Tierra Amarilla, NM | 16 mi | $98,329 |
| 87518 | Cebolla, NM | 25 mi | — |
| 87515 | Canjilon, NM | 26 mi | $93,676 |
| 81120 | Antonito, CO | 27 mi | $47,546 |
| 81157 | Pagosa Springs, CO · PO box | 35 mi | — |
| 87510 | Abiquiu, NM | 36 mi | $85,453 |
| 87581 | Vallecitos, NM | 37 mi | — |
| 81129 | Conejos, CO | 37 mi | — |
| 81147 | Pagosa Springs, CO | 38 mi | $84,270 |
Zip codes like 87520 elsewhere
Questions about 87520
What city is zip code 87520?
87520 is assigned to Chama, New Mexico. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.
What county is 87520 in?
87520 is in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
What is the population of 87520?
About 1,148 people live in 87520, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What time zone is 87520 in?
87520 is in Mountain Time.
What is the median household income in 87520?
The median household income in 87520 is $38,889.
What zip codes are near 87520?
The closest zip codes to 87520 are 87551, 81128, 87528, 87575, 87518.
Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 87520, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.