The Town FilesCarlsbad, New Mexico
City in Eddy County · population 32,238 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,000
- Household income
- $72,306
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.7
Carlsbad is a city of 32,238 people in Eddy County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $200,000, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more walkable than 96% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 93% of New Mexico towns, better transit than 84% of New Mexico towns.
How Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad is worth $200,000, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $72,306, which is more affordable than 67% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,236 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlsbad | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,000 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,236 | $916 |
| Median household income | $72,306 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Carlsbad
| People | Carlsbad | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 82.9% |
Weather in Carlsbad
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 12.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 119 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlsbad since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1992 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 130 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 10, 1989.
Severe weather in Eddy County since 1996
Eddy County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4199: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
Jobs and pay in Eddy County
Eddy County had 32,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,419 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Carlsbad itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Carlsbad
14 public schools with 7,331 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLSBAD HIGH | 9-12 | 1,623 | 20.3 |
| CARLSBAD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL - PR LEYVA CAMPUS | 6-8 | 834 | 18.5 |
| DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 820 | 15.2 |
| CARLSBAD SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY - ALTA VISTA CAMPUS | 6-8 | 714 | 18.3 |
| OCOTILLO ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 711 | 18.2 |
| COTTONWOOD ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 671 | 16.0 |
| SUNSET ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 419 | 16.8 |
| MONTERREY ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 345 | 17.3 |
| HILLCREST PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 320 | 16.0 |
| JEFFERSON MONTESSORI (charter) | K-12 | 258 | 258.0 |
| CARLSBAD ENRICHMENT CENTER | 1-12 | 234 | 23.4 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER | PK-K | 212 | 16.3 |
Towns near Carlsbad
- Livingston Wheeler, NM2.3 mi · 691 people · home $153,000
- Happy Valley, NM3.4 mi · 617 people · home $200,000
- La Huerta, NM3.5 mi · 1,448 people · home $345,100
- Loving, NM11.5 mi · 1,390 people · home $171,600
- Atoka, NM27.5 mi · 1,153 people · home $116,200
Carlsbad questions
Is Carlsbad, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlsbad scores better for retirees than 16% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 17%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Carlsbad?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlsbad is valued at $200,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,306, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,236 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlsbad?
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Carlsbad get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlsbad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1992. 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)