The Town FilesSocorro, New Mexico
City in Socorro County · population 8,707 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,900
- Household income
- $39,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 29.6
Socorro is a city of 8,707 people in Socorro County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $152,900, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of New Mexico towns, better for young professionals than 90% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 89% of New Mexico towns.
How Socorro 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 Socorro is worth $152,900, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $39,375, which is more affordable than 32% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Socorro | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,900 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $711 | $916 |
| Median household income | $39,375 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Socorro
| People | Socorro | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 11.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 64.6% | 82.9% |
Weather in Socorro
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 10.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Socorro since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 5, 2012 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 5, 2004.
Severe weather in Socorro County since 1996
Socorro County has been included in 12 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 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 24, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1962: Severe Winter Storm And Extreme Cold Temperatures |
Jobs and pay in Socorro County
Socorro County had 4,870 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,836 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Socorro itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Socorro
4 public schools with 1,173 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCORRO HIGH | 9-12 | 409 | 14.1 |
| PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 361 | 12.4 |
| R. SARRACINO MIDDLE | 6-8 | 233 | 12.3 |
| COTTONWOOD VALLEY CHARTER (charter) | K-8 | 170 | 15.5 |
Socorro questions
Is Socorro, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Socorro scores better for retirees than 29% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 15%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Socorro?
The median owner-occupied home in Socorro is valued at $152,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,375, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Socorro?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Socorro get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Socorro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 5, 2012. 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)