The Town FilesHigh Rolls, New Mexico
Community in Otero County · population 862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,600
- Household income
- $86,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 47.5
High Rolls is a community of 862 people in Otero County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $257,600, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 80% of New Mexico towns, better for cycling than 76% of New Mexico towns.
How High Rolls 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 High Rolls is worth $257,600, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $86,375, which is more affordable than 61% of New Mexico towns. 98.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | High Rolls | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,600 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $86,375 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 98.0% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.5% | — |
Who lives in High Rolls
| People | High Rolls | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 27.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in High Rolls
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 25.9°F. About 19.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.3 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of High Rolls since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 27, 1982 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 17, 1959.
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 High Rolls itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in High Rolls
1 public school with 19 students, about 6.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH ROLLS MOUNTAIN PARK ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 19 | 6.3 |
Towns near High Rolls
- Cloudcroft, NM4.3 mi · 750 people · home $234,800
- La Luz, NM8.4 mi · 1,578 people · home $68,100
- Alamogordo, NM10.0 mi · 30,898 people · home $172,900
- Boles Acres, NM12.8 mi · 1,788 people · home —
- Mescalero, NM13.9 mi · 1,480 people · home $43,300
- Tularosa, NM15.8 mi · 2,553 people · home $150,600
- Holloman AFB, NM18.1 mi · 3,810 people · home —
- Ruidoso, NM29.8 mi · 7,679 people · home $243,800
High Rolls questions
Is High Rolls, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, High Rolls scores better for retirees than 71% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 80%. 38.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in High Rolls?
The median owner-occupied home in High Rolls is valued at $257,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,375, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in High Rolls?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 25.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.3 inches of precipitation a year and 17.3 inches of snow.
Does High Rolls get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of High Rolls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 27, 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)