The Town FilesMelrose, New Mexico
Village in Curry County · population 622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,500
- Household income
- $32,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 45.6
Melrose is a village of 622 people in Curry County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $78,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 99% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 95% of New Mexico towns, better for families than 89% of New Mexico towns.
How Melrose 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 Melrose is worth $78,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $32,750, which is more affordable than 77% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $833 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melrose | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $833 | $916 |
| Median household income | $32,750 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Melrose
| People | Melrose | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Melrose
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 16.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.0 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1957 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 12, 2012.
Severe weather in Curry County since 1996
Curry County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2011 | Fire | FM-2897: Tire Fire |
| April 2, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1690: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Curry County
Curry County had 18,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,746 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Melrose itself the ACS puts it at 13.3%.
Public schools in Melrose
3 public schools with 294 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELROSE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 135 | 13.5 |
| MELROSE HIGH | 9-12 | 86 | 17.2 |
| MELROSE JUNIOR | 6-8 | 73 | 18.3 |
Towns near Melrose
- Cannon AFB, NM18.1 mi · 1,978 people · home —
- Portales, NM23.4 mi · 12,137 people · home $133,400
- Clovis, NM24.8 mi · 38,567 people · home $169,400
Melrose questions
Is Melrose, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melrose scores better for retirees than 76% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 70%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Melrose?
The median owner-occupied home in Melrose is valued at $78,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,750, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $833 a month.
What is the weather like in Melrose?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.2 inches of precipitation a year and 11.0 inches of snow.
Does Melrose get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1957. 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)