Broadway, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico · Jeff Vincent / CC BY 2.0Truth or Consequences New Mexico City Hall · AllenS / Public domain1927 RPPC "Dad Creely" Prop Hot Springs New Mex Man in Charge 89 yrs Griggs Studio · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Is Truth or Consequences, NM a Good Place to Live?
Truth or Consequences is a small town of 6,030 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $28,685
and a 2.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Truth or Consequences stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Truth or Consequences is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Truth or Consequences 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: 88.2
Truth or Consequences's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Truth or Consequences costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Truth or Consequences, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$101,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$686
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$28,685
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Truth or Consequences's violent crime rate is 818.7 per 100,000 residents
— 115% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
818.7 /100k
Property Crime
2472.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Truth or Consequences is served primarily by T OR C.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Truth or Consequences, NM
National Avg
School District
T OR C
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Truth or Consequences sees average highs of 55.0°F in January
and 93.2°F in July,
with 9.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Truth or Consequences's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Truth or Consequences roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $101,300 and median rent is $686/month.
Truth or Consequences's violent crime rate is 818.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2472.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Truth or Consequences are operated by T OR C.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Truth or Consequences, NM has a population of 6,030, a median household income of $28,685, 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.
Truth or Consequences averages 55.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.2 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Truth or Consequences, NM is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 87901, 87935.
The population of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico is 6,030 with a median age of 42.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Truth or Consequences: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $101,300, median household income $28,685, crime index 176 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Truth or Consequences side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
