The Town FilesElephant Butte, New Mexico
City in Sierra County · population 1,447 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,800
- Household income
- $53,482
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 62.7
Elephant Butte is a city of 1,447 people in Sierra County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $176,800, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks quieter than 98% of New Mexico towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 93% of New Mexico towns.
How Elephant Butte 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 Elephant Butte is worth $176,800, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $53,482, which is more affordable than 49% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,089 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elephant Butte | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,800 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,089 | $916 |
| Median household income | $53,482 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.9% | — |
Who lives in Elephant Butte
| People | Elephant Butte | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 26.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 12.0 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Elephant Butte
July highs average 97.0°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 106 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elephant Butte since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 20, 1982 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 1982.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 15, 2011.
Severe weather in Sierra County since 1996
Sierra County has been included in 13 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 |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sierra County
Sierra County had 3,522 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,291 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Elephant Butte itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Elephant Butte
4 public schools with 1,178 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| T OR C ELEMENTARY | PK-3 | 394 | 15.2 |
| HOT SPRINGS HIGH | 9-12 | 361 | 15.7 |
| T OR C MIDDLE | 6-8 | 272 | 14.3 |
| SIERRA ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 151 | 13.7 |
Towns near Elephant Butte
- Truth or Consequences, NM5.0 mi · 6,052 people · home $124,600
Elephant Butte questions
Is Elephant Butte, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elephant Butte scores better for retirees than 69% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 98%. 45.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.7).
How much does a house cost in Elephant Butte?
The median owner-occupied home in Elephant Butte is valued at $176,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,482, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,089 a month.
What is the weather like in Elephant Butte?
July highs average 97.0°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Elephant Butte get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elephant Butte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 20, 1982. 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)