What are the schools like in Carlsbad, NM?

Carlsbad is served primarily by CARLSBAD. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Carlsbad?

The median household income in Carlsbad, NM is $77,209 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Carlsbad, NM?

Carlsbad has an average high temperature of 58.7°F in January and 96.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Carlsbad, NM affordable or expensive?

Carlsbad's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carlsbad is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,500 and the median rent is $1,143 per month.

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

Carlsbad has a violent crime rate of 524.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2791.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carlsbad, NM a Good Place to Live?

Carlsbad is a small city of 31,755 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $77,209 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Carlsbad stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carlsbad is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carlsbad 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: 95.0

Carlsbad's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carlsbad costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carlsbad, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,143	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,209	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Carlsbad's violent crime rate is 524.9 per 100,000 residents — 38% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

524.9 /100k

Property Crime

2791.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Carlsbad is served primarily by CARLSBAD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carlsbad, NM	National Avg
School District	CARLSBAD	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carlsbad sees average highs of 58.7°F in January and 96.5°F in July, with 13.7 inches of annual precipitation and 2.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carlsbad, NM
Average High — January	58.7°F
Average High — July	96.5°F
Annual Precipitation	13.7"
Annual Snowfall	2.7"

Demographics

Metric	Carlsbad, NM	National Avg
Population	31,755	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	66.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	27.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Livingston Wheeler, NM 2 mi Happy Valley, NM 3 mi La Huerta, NM 3 mi Loving, NM 12 mi Malaga, NM 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Carlsbad

Carlsbad, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88220

Carlsbad vs Other Cities

Carlsbad, NM vs Livingston Wheeler, NM Carlsbad, NM vs Happy Valley, NM Carlsbad, NM vs La Huerta, NM Carlsbad, NM vs Loving, NM Carlsbad, NM vs Malaga, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carlsbad, NM affordable or expensive?

Carlsbad's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carlsbad roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,500 and median rent is $1,143/month.

What is the crime rate in Carlsbad, NM?

Carlsbad's violent crime rate is 524.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2791.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carlsbad?

Public schools in Carlsbad are operated by CARLSBAD. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carlsbad, NM a good place to live?

Carlsbad, NM has a population of 31,755, a median household income of $77,209, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. 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 Carlsbad?

Carlsbad averages 58.7°F in January and 96.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.7 inches with about 2.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carlsbad?

Carlsbad, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88220.

What is the population of Carlsbad?

The population of Carlsbad, New Mexico is 31,755 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carlsbad?

Key numbers for living in Carlsbad: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $172,500, median household income $77,209, crime index 136 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlsbad side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.