The Town FilesUpper Fruitland, New Mexico
Community in San Juan County · population 1,623 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,200
- Household income
- $49,453
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.8
Upper Fruitland is a community of 1,623 people in San Juan County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $86,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 91% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 89% of New Mexico towns.
How Upper Fruitland 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 Upper Fruitland is worth $86,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $49,453, which is more affordable than 92% of New Mexico towns. 93.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Upper Fruitland | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,200 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $49,453 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Upper Fruitland
| People | Upper Fruitland | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 49.7% | 82.9% |
Weather in Upper Fruitland
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 7.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Upper Fruitland since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 1957 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2015.
Severe weather in San Juan County since 1996
San Juan County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Flood | EM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in San Juan County
San Juan County had 46,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,008 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Upper Fruitland itself the ACS puts it at 12.1%.
Towns near Upper Fruitland
- Ojo Amarillo, NM3.2 mi · 696 people · home —
- Kirtland, NM3.7 mi · 585 people · home $291,300
- Fruitland, NM4.4 mi · 771 people · home —
- Nenahnezad, NM5.8 mi · 576 people · home $68,400
- Napi Headquarters, NM7.6 mi · 758 people · home —
- Farmington, NM8.1 mi · 46,624 people · home $233,000
- Waterflow, NM8.6 mi · 1,554 people · home $167,400
- Crouch Mesa, NM13.2 mi · 5,257 people · home $89,200
Upper Fruitland questions
Is Upper Fruitland, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Upper Fruitland scores better for retirees than 32% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 89%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Upper Fruitland?
The median owner-occupied home in Upper Fruitland is valued at $86,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,453, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Upper Fruitland?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.3 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Upper Fruitland get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Upper Fruitland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 1957. 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)