The Town FilesCapitan, New Mexico
Village in Lincoln County · population 1,391 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $52,864
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 57.6
Capitan is a village of 1,391 people in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks quieter than 100% of New Mexico towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 77% of New Mexico towns.
How Capitan 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 Capitan is worth $111,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $52,864, which is more affordable than 84% of New Mexico towns. 93.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Capitan | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $52,864 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.7% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in Capitan
| People | Capitan | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Capitan
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 16.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Capitan since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 16, 1987 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 7, 2017.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4886: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| July 10, 2025 | Flood | EM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| June 18, 2024 | Fire | FM-5498: Salt Fire |
| June 17, 2024 | Fire | FM-5497: South Fork Fire |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 6,782 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,202 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Capitan itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Capitan
3 public schools with 456 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPITAN ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 202 | 11.2 |
| CAPITAN HIGH | 9-12 | 152 | 10.9 |
| CAPITAN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 102 | 11.3 |
Towns near Capitan
- Ruidoso, NM13.7 mi · 7,679 people · home $243,800
- Ruidoso Downs, NM14.4 mi · 2,620 people · home $154,000
- Carrizozo, NM15.7 mi · 972 people · home $84,700
Capitan questions
Is Capitan, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Capitan scores better for retirees than 77% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 100%. 31.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.6).
How much does a house cost in Capitan?
The median owner-occupied home in Capitan is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,864, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Capitan?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.6 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Capitan get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Capitan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 16, 1987. 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)