The Town FilesTatum, New Mexico
Town in Lea County · population 706 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.7
Tatum is a town of 706 people in Lea County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $111,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 95% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 74% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 71% of New Mexico towns.
How Tatum 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 Tatum is worth $111,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Median rent is $943 a month. 74.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tatum | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,200 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $943 | $916 |
| Median household income | — | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.8% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Tatum
| People | Tatum | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Tatum
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 15.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.1 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 84 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tatum since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 23, 2007 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 23, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 2025.
Severe weather in Lea County since 1996
Lea County has been included in 7 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, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4199: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lea County
Lea County had 33,770 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Tatum itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tatum
3 public schools with 313 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TATUM ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 141 | 15.7 |
| TATUM HIGH | 9-12 | 111 | 13.9 |
| TATUM JR HIGH | 7-8 | 61 | 20.3 |
Towns near Tatum
- Lovington, NM21.6 mi · 11,668 people · home $166,100
- Plains, TX28.7 mi · 1,355 people · home $133,300
Tatum questions
Is Tatum, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tatum scores better for retirees than 71% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 74%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Tatum?
The median owner-occupied home in Tatum is valued at $111,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Tatum?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6.1 inches of snow.
Does Tatum get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tatum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 23, 2007. 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)