The Town FilesJal, New Mexico
City in Lea County · population 2,202 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.6
Jal is a city of 2,202 people in Lea County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $97,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 93% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of New Mexico towns.
How Jal 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 Jal is worth $97,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Median rent is $1,318 a month. 72.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jal | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,600 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,318 | $916 |
| Median household income | — | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.5% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Jal
| People | Jal | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.6% | 82.9% |
Weather in Jal
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 12.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 125 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jal since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 11, 1989 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 24, 1992.
Severe weather in Lea County since 1996
Lea County has been included in 7 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 |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lea County
Lea County had 33,770 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Jal itself the ACS puts it at 18.8%.
Public schools in Jal
3 public schools with 550 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAL ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 272 | 15.1 |
| JAL HIGH | 9-12 | 160 | 17.8 |
| JAL JR HIGH | 6-8 | 118 | 19.7 |
Towns near Jal
- Kermit, TX18.9 mi · 6,267 people · home $151,600
- Eunice, NM22.3 mi · 3,056 people · home $139,800
- Wink, TX25.0 mi · 915 people · home $121,900
Jal questions
Is Jal, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jal scores better for retirees than 31% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 39%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Jal?
The median owner-occupied home in Jal is valued at $97,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $1,318 a month.
What is the weather like in Jal?
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Jal get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 11, 1989. 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)