What are the schools like in Mesilla, NM?

Mesilla is served primarily by LAS CRUCES. The district operates 25 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2:1.

What is the median household income in Mesilla?

The median household income in Mesilla, NM is $65,809 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Mesilla, NM?

Mesilla has an average high temperature of 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 9.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Mesilla, NM affordable or expensive?

Mesilla's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mesilla is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $293,400 and the median rent is $916 per month.

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

Mesilla has a violent crime rate of 111.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1398.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mesilla, NM a Good Place to Live?

Mesilla is a small town of 1,647 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $65,809 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Mesilla stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Mesilla 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: 95.8

Mesilla's overall cost of living index is 95.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mesilla costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Mesilla, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$293,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$916	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,809	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Mesilla's violent crime rate is 111.9 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

111.9 /100k

Property Crime

1398.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mesilla is served primarily by LAS CRUCES. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mesilla, NM	National Avg
School District	LAS CRUCES	—
Elementary Schools	25	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mesilla sees average highs of 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July, with 9.5 inches of annual precipitation and 1.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Mesilla, NM
Average High — January	58.9°F
Average High — July	95.6°F
Annual Precipitation	9.5"
Annual Snowfall	1.0"

Demographics

Metric	Mesilla, NM	National Avg
Population	1,647	—
Median Age	51.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	15.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	14.6%	22.2%
65 and over	24.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fairacres, NM 3 mi San Pablo, NM 3 mi Tortugas, NM 3 mi University Park, NM 4 mi Las Cruces, NM 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Mesilla

Mesilla, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88046

Mesilla vs Other Cities

Mesilla, NM vs Fairacres, NM Mesilla, NM vs San Pablo, NM Mesilla, NM vs Tortugas, NM Mesilla, NM vs University Park, NM Mesilla, NM vs Las Cruces, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mesilla, NM affordable or expensive?

Mesilla's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mesilla roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $293,400 and median rent is $916/month.

What is the crime rate in Mesilla, NM?

Mesilla's violent crime rate is 111.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1398.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mesilla?

Public schools in Mesilla are operated by LAS CRUCES. The district has 25 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 47.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mesilla, NM a good place to live?

Mesilla, NM has a population of 1,647, a median household income of $65,809, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. 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 Mesilla?

Mesilla averages 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.5 inches with about 1.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mesilla?

Mesilla, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88046.

What is the population of Mesilla?

The population of Mesilla, New Mexico is 1,647 with a median age of 51.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mesilla?

Key numbers for living in Mesilla: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $293,400, median household income $65,809, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mesilla side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.