The Town FilesEstancia, New Mexico
Town in Torrance County · population 1,242 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,000
- Household income
- $53,846
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.3
Estancia is a town of 1,242 people in Torrance County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $99,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 71% of New Mexico towns.
How Estancia 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 Estancia is worth $99,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $53,846, which is more affordable than 90% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Estancia | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,000 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $843 | $916 |
| Median household income | $53,846 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Estancia
| People | Estancia | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.2% | 82.9% |
Weather in Estancia
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 13.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Estancia since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on September 14, 1976 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 14, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 2, 2000.
Severe weather in Torrance County since 1996
Torrance County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2023 | Fire | FM-5461: Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag |
| 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 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Torrance County
Torrance County had 3,165 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,439 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Estancia itself the ACS puts it at 39.2%.
Public schools in Estancia
4 public schools with 580 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESTANCIA HIGH | 9-12 | 185 | 13.2 |
| UPPER ELEMENTARY | 2-6 | 181 | 9.5 |
| LOWER ELEMENTARY | PK-1 | 112 | 10.2 |
| ESTANCIA MIDDLE | 7-8 | 102 | 14.6 |
Towns near Estancia
- McIntosh, NM8.2 mi · 1,395 people · home $168,500
- Indian Hills, NM16.2 mi · 947 people · home $143,800
- Moriarty, NM16.5 mi · 1,946 people · home $108,500
- Mountainair, NM20.3 mi · 884 people · home $95,300
- Ponderosa Pine, NM22.3 mi · 1,092 people · home $313,700
- Barton, NM24.2 mi · 1,282 people · home $323,700
- Thunder Mountain, NM25.6 mi · 1,171 people · home $400,000
- Sedillo, NM26.4 mi · 670 people · home $475,900
Estancia questions
Is Estancia, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Estancia scores better for retirees than 26% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 71%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Estancia?
The median owner-occupied home in Estancia is valued at $99,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,846, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Estancia?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.9 inches of snow.
Does Estancia get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Estancia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on September 14, 1976. 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)