Entering Vaughn from the west, NM · John Phelan / CC BY 3.0Vaughn City Hall, NM · John Phelan / CC BY 3.0Depot, Vaughn NM · John Phelan / CC BY 3.0First Baptist Church, Vaughn NM · John Phelan / CC BY 3.0
Vaughn is a small town of 496 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $25,568
.
Its cost of living index is 81 (US average = 100), which is
19% below the national average.
Strengths:
Vaughn stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Vaughn is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Vaughn 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: 80.6
Vaughn's overall cost of living index is 80.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Vaughn costs roughly 19% less than the average American city.
Metric
Vaughn, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$48,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$414
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$25,568
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Vaughn's violent crime rate is 302.3 per 100,000 residents
— 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
302.3 /100k
Property Crime
720.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Vaughn is served primarily by VAUGHN.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Vaughn, NM
National Avg
School District
VAUGHN
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
5.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
4.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
56.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Vaughn sees average highs of 46.0°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 13.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.7 inches of snow per year.
Vaughn's cost of living index is 81, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Vaughn roughly 19% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $48,500 and median rent is $414/month.
Vaughn's violent crime rate is 302.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 720.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Vaughn are operated by VAUGHN.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.8:1. 4.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Vaughn, NM has a population of 496, a median household income of $25,568, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Vaughn averages 46.0°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.8 inches
with about 25.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Vaughn, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88353.
The population of Vaughn, New Mexico is 496 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Vaughn: cost of living index 81 (100 = US average), median home $48,500, median household income $25,568, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vaughn side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
