The Town FilesTularosa, New Mexico
Village in Otero County · population 2,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,600
- Household income
- $52,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 25.8
Tularosa is a village of 2,553 people in Otero County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $150,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 81% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of New Mexico towns.
How Tularosa 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 Tularosa is worth $150,600, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $52,375, which is more affordable than 65% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,081 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tularosa | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,600 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,081 | $916 |
| Median household income | $52,375 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Tularosa
| People | Tularosa | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 33.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 82.9% |
Weather in Tularosa
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 10.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.4 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 91 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tularosa since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 4, 2019 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 24, 1999.
Severe weather in Otero County since 1996
Otero County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4886: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| July 10, 2025 | Flood | EM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| June 18, 2024 | Fire | FM-5498: Salt Fire |
| June 17, 2024 | Fire | FM-5497: South Fork Fire |
Jobs and pay in Otero County
Otero County had 17,528 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,017 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Tularosa itself the ACS puts it at 20.2%.
Public schools in Tularosa
4 public schools with 934 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TULAROSA HIGH | 9-12 | 299 | 12.5 |
| TULAROSA INTERMEDIATE | 3-6 | 292 | 14.6 |
| TULAROSA ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 211 | 14.1 |
| TULAROSA MIDDLE | 7-8 | 132 | 12.0 |
Towns near Tularosa
- La Luz, NM8.4 mi · 1,578 people · home $68,100
- Mescalero, NM13.2 mi · 1,480 people · home $43,300
- Alamogordo, NM13.6 mi · 30,898 people · home $172,900
- High Rolls, NM15.8 mi · 862 people · home $257,600
- Holloman AFB, NM16.5 mi · 3,810 people · home —
- Boles Acres, NM17.8 mi · 1,788 people · home —
- Cloudcroft, NM18.6 mi · 750 people · home $234,800
- Ruidoso, NM27.7 mi · 7,679 people · home $243,800
Tularosa questions
Is Tularosa, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tularosa scores better for retirees than 28% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 62%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.8).
How much does a house cost in Tularosa?
The median owner-occupied home in Tularosa is valued at $150,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,375, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,081 a month.
What is the weather like in Tularosa?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17.4 inches of snow.
Does Tularosa get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tularosa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 4, 2019. 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)