What are the schools like in Capitan, NM?

Capitan is served primarily by CAPITAN. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

What is the median household income in Capitan?

The median household income in Capitan, NM is $48,826 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Capitan, NM?

Capitan has an average high temperature of 50.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.3 inches.

Capitan, NM Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Capitan, NM affordable or expensive?

Capitan's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Capitan is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $126,700 and the median rent is $931 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Capitan, NM?

Capitan has a violent crime rate of 215.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 647.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Capitan, NM a Good Place to Live?

Capitan is a small town of 1,381 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $48,826 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Capitan stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Capitan is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Capitan city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.8

Capitan's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Capitan costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Capitan, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$126,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$931	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	88.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,826	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Capitan's violent crime rate is 215.7 per 100,000 residents — 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

215.7 /100k

Property Crime

647.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Capitan is served primarily by CAPITAN. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Capitan, NM	National Avg
School District	CAPITAN	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Capitan sees average highs of 50.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 16.6 inches of annual precipitation and 27.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Capitan, NM
Average High — January	50.9°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	16.6"
Annual Snowfall	27.3"

Demographics

Metric	Capitan, NM	National Avg
Population	1,381	—
Median Age	49.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.7%	22.2%
65 and over	24.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nogal, NM 7 mi Ruidoso, NM 14 mi Ruidoso Downs, NM 14 mi Carrizozo, NM 16 mi Mescalero, NM 30 mi

ZIP Codes in Capitan

Capitan, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88316

Capitan vs Other Cities

Capitan, NM vs Nogal, NM Capitan, NM vs Ruidoso, NM Capitan, NM vs Ruidoso Downs, NM Capitan, NM vs Carrizozo, NM Capitan, NM vs Mescalero, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Capitan, NM affordable or expensive?

Capitan's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Capitan roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $126,700 and median rent is $931/month.

What is the crime rate in Capitan, NM?

Capitan's violent crime rate is 215.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 647.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Capitan?

Public schools in Capitan are operated by CAPITAN. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Capitan, NM a good place to live?

Capitan, NM has a population of 1,381, a median household income of $48,826, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Capitan?

Capitan averages 50.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.6 inches with about 27.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Capitan?

Capitan, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88316.

What is the population of Capitan?

The population of Capitan, New Mexico is 1,381 with a median age of 49.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Capitan?

Key numbers for living in Capitan: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $126,700, median household income $48,826, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Capitan side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.