The Town FilesBayard, New Mexico
City in Grant County · population 2,116 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,700
- Household income
- $34,477
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 34.0
Bayard is a city of 2,116 people in Grant County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $117,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better transit than 95% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 84% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 81% of New Mexico towns.
How Bayard ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bayard is worth $117,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $34,477, which is more affordable than 47% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $716 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bayard | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,700 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $716 | $916 |
| Median household income | $34,477 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bayard
| People | Bayard | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Bayard
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 16.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.2 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bayard since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 12, 1957 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 19, 1979.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 27, 1971.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2025 | Fire | FM-5588: Trout Fire |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| May 26, 2012 | Fire | FM-2978: Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex |
| March 8, 2011 | Fire | FM-2866: Quail Ridge Fire |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 9,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,413 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bayard itself the ACS puts it at 12.8%.
Public schools in Bayard
3 public schools with 645 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COBRE HIGH | 9-12 | 281 | 12.2 |
| SNELL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 201 | 12.6 |
| BAYARD ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 163 | 8.6 |
Towns near Bayard
- Santa Clara, NM1.8 mi · 1,637 people · home $141,500
- Hurley, NM4.1 mi · 1,256 people · home $89,700
- Arenas Valley, NM4.2 mi · 1,291 people · home $189,900
- Silver City, NM8.0 mi · 9,704 people · home $182,100
- Little Walnut Village, NM10.0 mi · 1,386 people · home $292,700
- Tyrone, NM10.4 mi · 712 people · home $166,100
Bayard questions
Is Bayard, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bayard scores better for retirees than 81% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 84%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Bayard?
The median owner-occupied home in Bayard is valued at $117,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,477, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $716 a month.
What is the weather like in Bayard?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.2 inches of snow.
Does Bayard get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bayard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 12, 1957. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)