The Town FilesSanta Rosa, New Mexico
City in Guadalupe County · population 2,850 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,600
- Household income
- $48,789
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 35.0
Santa Rosa is a city of 2,850 people in Guadalupe County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $111,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 93% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of New Mexico towns.
How Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa is worth $111,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $48,789, which is more affordable than 79% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Santa Rosa | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,600 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $727 | $916 |
| Median household income | $48,789 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Santa Rosa
| People | Santa Rosa | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 82.9% |
Weather in Santa Rosa
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 15.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.3 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Santa Rosa since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 8, 1959 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 17, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 2024.
Severe weather in Guadalupe County since 1996
Guadalupe County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 6, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4197: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1659: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County had 1,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,161 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Santa Rosa itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Santa Rosa
4 public schools with 491 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANTA ROSA ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 197 | 10.9 |
| SANTA ROSA HIGH | 9-12 | 195 | 11.5 |
| SANTA ROSA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 99 | 12.4 |
| GUADALUPE COUNTY CORRECTIONS | 8-12 | — | — |
Santa Rosa questions
Is Santa Rosa, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Santa Rosa scores better for retirees than 67% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 93%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Santa Rosa?
The median owner-occupied home in Santa Rosa is valued at $111,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,789, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in Santa Rosa?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.3 inches of snow.
Does Santa Rosa get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Santa Rosa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 8, 1959. 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)