What are the schools like in Vado, NM?

Vado is served primarily by GADSDEN. The district operates 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Vado?

The median household income in Vado, NM is $46,380 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Vado, NM?

Vado has an average high temperature of 57.2°F in January and 94.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 9.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Vado, NM affordable or expensive?

Vado's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Vado is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $121,000 and the median rent is $471 per month.

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

Vado has a violent crime rate of 545.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3165.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Vado, NM a Good Place to Live?

Vado is a small town of 3,386 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $46,380 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Vado 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 Vado is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Vado 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: 86.1

Vado's overall cost of living index is 86.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Vado costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Vado, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$121,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$471	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,380	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Vado's violent crime rate is 545.4 per 100,000 residents — 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

545.4 /100k

Property Crime

3165.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Vado is served primarily by GADSDEN. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Vado, NM	National Avg
School District	GADSDEN	—
Elementary Schools	14	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	5.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	57.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Vado sees average highs of 57.2°F in January and 94.3°F in July, with 9.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Vado, NM
Average High — January	57.2°F
Average High — July	94.3°F
Annual Precipitation	9.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Vado, NM	National Avg
Population	3,386	—
Median Age	26.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	60.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	39.0%	22.2%
65 and over	6.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

La Mesa, NM 3 mi Mesquite, NM 3 mi San Miguel, NM 4 mi Berino, NM 5 mi Chamberino, NM 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Vado

Vado, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88072

Vado vs Other Cities

Vado, NM vs La Mesa, NM Vado, NM vs Mesquite, NM Vado, NM vs San Miguel, NM Vado, NM vs Berino, NM Vado, NM vs Chamberino, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vado, NM affordable or expensive?

Vado's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Vado roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $121,000 and median rent is $471/month.

What is the crime rate in Vado, NM?

Vado's violent crime rate is 545.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3165.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Vado?

Public schools in Vado are operated by GADSDEN. The district has 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 5.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Vado, NM a good place to live?

Vado, NM has a population of 3,386, a median household income of $46,380, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. 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.

What is the weather like in Vado?

Vado averages 57.2°F in January and 94.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Vado?

Vado, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88072.

What is the population of Vado?

The population of Vado, New Mexico is 3,386 with a median age of 26.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Vado?

Key numbers for living in Vado: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $121,000, median household income $46,380, crime index 146 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vado side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.