The Town FilesMora, New Mexico
Community in Mora County · population 547 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,200
- Household income
- $72,218
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 108 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 56.1
Mora is a community of 547 people in Mora County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $172,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks quieter than 98% of New Mexico towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of New Mexico towns.
How Mora 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 Mora is worth $172,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $72,218, which is more affordable than 77% of New Mexico towns. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mora | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,200 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $72,218 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Mora
| People | Mora | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 25.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | — min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.6% | 82.9% |
Weather in Mora
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 24.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 108.3 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mora since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 21, 1973 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 22, 2021.
Severe weather in Mora County since 1996
Mora County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2023 | Fire | FM-5465: Las Tusas Fire |
| May 4, 2022 | Fire | DR-4652: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Mora County
Mora County had 668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,370 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Mora itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Mora
4 public schools with 452 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MORA ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 160 | 14.5 |
| MORA HIGH | 9-12 | 114 | 14.3 |
| HOLMAN ELEMENTARY | PK-K | 94 | 15.7 |
| LAZARO LARRY GARCIA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 84 | 9.3 |
Towns near Mora
- Las Vegas, NM25.6 mi · 13,166 people · home $155,300
- Angel Fire, NM28.9 mi · 1,192 people · home $546,800
- Talpa, NM29.8 mi · 960 people · home $387,300
Mora questions
Is Mora, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mora scores better for retirees than 78% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 98%. 43.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.1).
How much does a house cost in Mora?
The median owner-occupied home in Mora is valued at $172,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,218, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Mora?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.9 inches of precipitation a year and 108.3 inches of snow.
Does Mora get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 21, 1973. 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)