What are the schools like in Jal, NM?

Jal is served primarily by JAL. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Jal?

The median household income in Jal, NM is $56,731 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.9%.

What is the weather like in Jal, NM?

Jal has an average high temperature of 59.9°F in January and 95.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 12.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Jal, NM affordable or expensive?

Jal's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Jal is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $112,800 and the median rent is $750 per month.

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

Jal has a violent crime rate of 558.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2953.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Jal, NM a Good Place to Live?

Jal is a small town of 2,258 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $56,731 and a 13.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Jal stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Jal 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: 89.5

Jal's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Jal costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Jal, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$112,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$750	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,731	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Jal's violent crime rate is 558.6 per 100,000 residents — 47% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

558.6 /100k

Property Crime

2953.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Jal is served primarily by JAL. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Jal, NM	National Avg
School District	JAL	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	65.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Jal sees average highs of 59.9°F in January and 95.9°F in July, with 12.2 inches of annual precipitation and 1.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Jal, NM
Average High — January	59.9°F
Average High — July	95.9°F
Annual Precipitation	12.2"
Annual Snowfall	1.9"

Demographics

Metric	Jal, NM	National Avg
Population	2,258	—
Median Age	39.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kermit, TX 19 mi Eunice, NM 22 mi Wink, TX 25 mi Monahans, TX 32 mi Nadine, NM 35 mi

ZIP Codes in Jal

Jal, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88252

Jal vs Other Cities

Jal, NM vs Kermit, TX Jal, NM vs Eunice, NM Jal, NM vs Wink, TX Jal, NM vs Monahans, TX Jal, NM vs Nadine, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jal, NM affordable or expensive?

Jal's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Jal roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $112,800 and median rent is $750/month.

What is the crime rate in Jal, NM?

Jal's violent crime rate is 558.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2953.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Jal?

Public schools in Jal are operated by JAL. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Jal, NM a good place to live?

Jal, NM has a population of 2,258, a median household income of $56,731, and an unemployment rate of 13.9%. 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 Jal?

Jal averages 59.9°F in January and 95.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.2 inches with about 1.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Jal?

Jal, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88252.

What is the population of Jal?

The population of Jal, New Mexico is 2,258 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Jal?

Key numbers for living in Jal: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $112,800, median household income $56,731, crime index 144 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.