Sheep Springs is a small town of 362 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $19,886
and a 18.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sheep Springs stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sheep Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sheep Springs 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: 89.1
Sheep Springs's overall cost of living index is 89.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sheep Springs costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sheep Springs, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$808
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$19,886
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sheep Springs's violent crime rate is 612.3 per 100,000 residents
— 61% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
612.3 /100k
Property Crime
1406.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sheep Springs is served primarily by CENTRAL.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sheep Springs, NM
National Avg
School District
CENTRAL
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
5.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sheep Springs sees average highs of 38.8°F in January
and 87.6°F in July,
with 22.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Sheep Springs's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sheep Springs roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,500 and median rent is $808/month.
Sheep Springs's violent crime rate is 612.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1406.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sheep Springs are operated by CENTRAL.
The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 5.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sheep Springs, NM has a population of 362, a median household income of $19,886, and an unemployment rate of 18.5%.
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.
Sheep Springs averages 38.8°F in January and 87.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.5 inches
with about 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sheep Springs, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 87364.
The population of Sheep Springs, New Mexico is 362 with a median age of 30.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sheep Springs: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $92,500, median household income $19,886, crime index 123 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sheep Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.