The Town FilesDexter, New Mexico
Town in Chaves County · population 1,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,500
- Household income
- $43,846
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 31.5
Dexter is a town of 1,074 people in Chaves County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $97,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 87% of New Mexico towns.
How Dexter 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 Dexter is worth $97,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $43,846, which is more affordable than 82% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $673 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dexter | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $673 | $916 |
| Median household income | $43,846 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dexter
| People | Dexter | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 41.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Dexter
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 11.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dexter since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 12, 2019 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Chaves County since 1996
Chaves County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2025 | Flood | EM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| November 1, 2024 | Flood | DR-4843: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Chaves County
Chaves County had 21,658 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,769 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Dexter itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Public schools in Dexter
3 public schools with 813 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEXTER ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 358 | 17.0 |
| DEXTER HIGH | 9-12 | 269 | 14.9 |
| DEXTER MIDDLE | 6-8 | 186 | 14.3 |
Towns near Dexter
- Hagerman, NM5.9 mi · 975 people · home $109,600
- Midway, NM8.5 mi · 818 people · home $178,400
- Roswell, NM15.4 mi · 48,422 people · home $152,600
- Artesia, NM23.9 mi · 12,875 people · home $229,400
- Atoka, NM28.8 mi · 1,153 people · home $116,200
Dexter questions
Is Dexter, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dexter scores better for retirees than 68% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 66%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Dexter?
The median owner-occupied home in Dexter is valued at $97,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,846, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $673 a month.
What is the weather like in Dexter?
July highs average 96.5°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Dexter get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dexter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 12, 2019. 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)