The Town FilesLa Luz, New Mexico
Community in Otero County · population 1,578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,100
- Household income
- $46,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.9
La Luz is a community of 1,578 people in Otero County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $68,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 85% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 82% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of New Mexico towns.
How La Luz 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 La Luz is worth $68,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $46,655, which is more affordable than 94% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $765 a month. 76.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Luz | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $765 | $916 |
| Median household income | $46,655 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in La Luz
| People | La Luz | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 16.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 13.6 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 82.9% |
Weather in La Luz
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 10.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Luz 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 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 24, 1999.
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 La Luz itself the ACS puts it at 26.4%.
Public schools in La Luz
1 public school with 232 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA LUZ ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 232 | 17.8 |
Towns near La Luz
- Alamogordo, NM6.2 mi · 30,898 people · home $172,900
- High Rolls, NM8.4 mi · 862 people · home $257,600
- Tularosa, NM8.4 mi · 2,553 people · home $150,600
- Boles Acres, NM10.7 mi · 1,788 people · home —
- Cloudcroft, NM12.1 mi · 750 people · home $234,800
- Holloman AFB, NM12.6 mi · 3,810 people · home —
- Mescalero, NM13.9 mi · 1,480 people · home $43,300
La Luz questions
Is La Luz, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Luz scores better for retirees than 39% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 82%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in La Luz?
The median owner-occupied home in La Luz is valued at $68,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,655, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $765 a month.
What is the weather like in La Luz?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does La Luz get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Luz 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)