The Town FilesHighland Meadows, New Mexico
Community in Valencia County · population 568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,300
- Household income
- $58,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 28.7
Highland Meadows is a community of 568 people in Valencia County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $131,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 90% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 72% of New Mexico towns.
How Highland Meadows 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 Highland Meadows is worth $131,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $58,672, which is more affordable than 82% of New Mexico towns. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Meadows | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,300 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $58,672 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland Meadows
| People | Highland Meadows | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 0.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 66.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.2% | 82.9% |
Weather in Highland Meadows
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.0 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Highland Meadows since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 30, 2017 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 30, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on November 5, 2016.
Severe weather in Valencia County since 1996
Valencia County has been included in 15 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 |
| June 22, 2025 | Fire | FM-5594: Cotton 2 Fire |
| June 21, 2025 | Fire | FM-5593: Desert Willow Fire Complex |
| April 18, 2025 | Fire | FM-5579: Rio Grande Fire |
| May 4, 2022 | Fire | DR-4652: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows |
Jobs and pay in Valencia County
Valencia County had 17,446 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,642 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Highland Meadows itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Towns near Highland Meadows
- Mesita, NM9.7 mi · 793 people · home —
- Laguna, NM15.3 mi · 1,282 people · home —
- Paraje, NM18.6 mi · 705 people · home —
- Los Lunas, NM23.4 mi · 17,242 people · home $262,900
- Belen, NM23.5 mi · 7,360 people · home $166,100
- Skyline-Ganipa, NM26.3 mi · 1,614 people · home $83,900
- Isleta, NM26.6 mi · 802 people · home $159,000
- Los Chaves, NM27.0 mi · 4,997 people · home $285,700
Highland Meadows questions
Is Highland Meadows, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Meadows scores better for retirees than 29% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 72%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.7).
How much does a house cost in Highland Meadows?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Meadows is valued at $131,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,672, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Meadows?
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland Meadows get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Highland Meadows since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 30, 2017. 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)