The Town FilesCarnuel, New Mexico
Community in Bernalillo County · population 1,019 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $294,600
- Household income
- $98,988
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 54.2
Carnuel is a community of 1,019 people in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $294,600, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 96% of New Mexico towns, more upscale than 94% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 86% of New Mexico towns.
How Carnuel 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 Carnuel is worth $294,600, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $98,988, which is more affordable than 61% of New Mexico towns. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carnuel | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,600 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $98,988 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carnuel
| People | Carnuel | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Carnuel
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 14.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carnuel since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 3, 2011 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 3, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 2025.
Severe weather in Bernalillo County since 1996
Bernalillo County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2016 | Fire | FM-5127: Dog Head Fire |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2880: White Fire |
Jobs and pay in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County had 347,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,493 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Carnuel itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Carnuel
- Cedar Crest, NM5.7 mi · 933 people · home $248,400
- Kirtland AFB, NM5.9 mi · 3,838 people · home —
- Sandia Heights, NM8.0 mi · 3,273 people · home $670,100
- San Antonito, NM9.1 mi · 989 people · home $370,700
- Ponderosa Pine, NM9.1 mi · 1,092 people · home $313,700
- Sedillo, NM9.7 mi · 670 people · home $475,900
- Albuquerque, NM11.1 mi · 564,559 people · home $291,500
- Sandia Knolls, NM11.3 mi · 1,252 people · home $293,900
Carnuel questions
Is Carnuel, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carnuel scores better for retirees than 86% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 65%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Carnuel?
The median owner-occupied home in Carnuel is valued at $294,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,988, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Carnuel?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.9 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Carnuel get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carnuel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 3, 2011. 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)