The Town FilesMountainair, New Mexico
Town in Torrance County · population 884 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,300
- Household income
- $43,021
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 33.4
Mountainair is a town of 884 people in Torrance County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $95,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 95% of New Mexico towns, hipper than 94% of New Mexico towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Mexico
- #3 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Young Families in New Mexico
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #6 in The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico With Mild Winters
- #14 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Mexico
How Mountainair 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 Mountainair is worth $95,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $43,021, which is more affordable than 82% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 81.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountainair | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,300 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $832 | $916 |
| Median household income | $43,021 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.7% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mountainair
| People | Mountainair | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 34.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.1% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in Mountainair
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 12.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Mountainair since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on September 14, 1976 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 14, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Torrance County since 1996
Torrance County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2023 | Fire | FM-5461: Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2016 | Fire | FM-5127: Dog Head Fire |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Torrance County
Torrance County had 3,165 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,439 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Mountainair itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Mountainair
3 public schools with 191 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAINAIR ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 95 | 11.9 |
| MOUNTAINAIR HIGH | 9-12 | 59 | 6.6 |
| MOUNTAINAIR JR HIGH | 6-8 | 37 | 7.4 |
Towns near Mountainair
- Estancia, NM20.3 mi · 1,242 people · home $99,000
- McIntosh, NM27.0 mi · 1,395 people · home $168,500
- Meadow Lake, NM27.1 mi · 4,573 people · home $77,900
- Madrone, NM28.1 mi · 621 people · home $49,800
- Las Maravillas, NM28.3 mi · 1,604 people · home $230,000
- Monterey Park, NM28.4 mi · 1,272 people · home $56,300
- Rio Communities, NM28.4 mi · 4,926 people · home $205,900
- El Cerro Mission, NM28.7 mi · 4,566 people · home $115,300
Mountainair questions
Is Mountainair, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountainair scores better for retirees than 84% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 95%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Mountainair?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountainair is valued at $95,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,021, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountainair?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Mountainair get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Mountainair since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on September 14, 1976. 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)