The Town FilesCloudcroft, New Mexico
Village in Otero County · population 750 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,800
- Household income
- $56,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 72°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 61.1
Cloudcroft is a village of 750 people in Otero County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $234,800, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 96% of New Mexico towns, better for families than 84% of New Mexico towns.
How Cloudcroft 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 Cloudcroft is worth $234,800, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $56,563, which is more affordable than 25% of New Mexico towns. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cloudcroft | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,800 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $56,563 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 60.6% | — |
Who lives in Cloudcroft
| People | Cloudcroft | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.4% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 6.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.7% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 15.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 24.5% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 82.9% |
Weather in Cloudcroft
July highs average 72.2°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 28.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cloudcroft since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 25, 2007 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 12, 1965.
Severe weather in Otero County since 1996
Otero County has been included in 24 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 Otero County
Otero County had 17,528 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,017 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Cloudcroft itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Cloudcroft
3 public schools with 426 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLOUDCROFT ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 181 | 16.5 |
| CLOUDCROFT HIGH | 9-12 | 125 | 10.4 |
| CLOUDCROFT MIDDLE | 6-8 | 120 | 17.1 |
Towns near Cloudcroft
- High Rolls, NM4.3 mi · 862 people · home $257,600
- La Luz, NM12.1 mi · 1,578 people · home $68,100
- Mescalero, NM13.2 mi · 1,480 people · home $43,300
- Alamogordo, NM14.2 mi · 30,898 people · home $172,900
- Boles Acres, NM16.9 mi · 1,788 people · home —
- Tularosa, NM18.6 mi · 2,553 people · home $150,600
- Holloman AFB, NM22.3 mi · 3,810 people · home —
- Ruidoso Downs, NM27.3 mi · 2,620 people · home $154,000
Cloudcroft questions
Is Cloudcroft, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cloudcroft scores better for retirees than 74% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 96%. 31.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.1).
How much does a house cost in Cloudcroft?
The median owner-occupied home in Cloudcroft is valued at $234,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,563, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cloudcroft?
July highs average 72.2°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.4 inches of precipitation a year and 66.8 inches of snow.
Does Cloudcroft get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cloudcroft since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 25, 2007. 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)