The Town FilesRaton, New Mexico
City in Colfax County · population 6,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,300
- Household income
- $52,641
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.8
Raton is a city of 6,041 people in Colfax County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $134,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 76% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 74% of New Mexico towns.
How Raton 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 Raton is worth $134,300, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $52,641, which is more affordable than 72% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Raton | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,300 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $741 | $916 |
| Median household income | $52,641 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Raton
| People | Raton | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.2% | 82.9% |
Weather in Raton
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 15.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Raton since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 16, 2004 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 21, 2004.
Severe weather in Colfax County since 1996
Colfax County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2022 | Fire | DR-4652: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows |
| April 28, 2022 | Fire | FM-5437: Cook'S Peak Fire |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 1, 2018 | Fire | FM-5239: Ute Park Fire |
Jobs and pay in Colfax County
Colfax County had 4,287 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,087 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Raton itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Raton
3 public schools with 833 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RATON HIGH | 7-12 | 351 | 13.5 |
| RATON INTERMEDIATE | 3-6 | 244 | 11.6 |
| LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 238 | 12.5 |
Towns near Raton
- Trinidad, CO20.1 mi · 8,329 people · home $226,800
Raton questions
Is Raton, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Raton scores better for retirees than 76% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 61%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Raton?
The median owner-occupied home in Raton is valued at $134,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,641, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Raton?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.1 inches of precipitation a year and 25.4 inches of snow.
Does Raton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Raton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 16, 2004. 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)