What are the schools like in White Sands, NM?

White Sands 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 White Sands?

The median household income in White Sands, NM is $88,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in White Sands, NM?

White Sands has an average high temperature of 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 9.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.0 inches.

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

Q: What is the crime rate in White Sands, NM?

White Sands 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 White Sands, NM a Good Place to Live?

White Sands is a small town of 1,449 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $88,750 .

Strengths: White Sands stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All White Sands city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the White Sands metro area.

Metric	White Sands, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	N/A	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,280	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	4.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$88,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

White Sands'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

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

Metric	White Sands, 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	45.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

White Sands sees average highs of 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July, with 9.9 inches of annual precipitation and 1.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	White Sands, NM
Average High — January	58.9°F
Average High — July	95.6°F
Annual Precipitation	9.9"
Annual Snowfall	1.0"

Demographics

Metric	White Sands, NM	National Avg
Population	1,449	—
Median Age	21.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.6%	18.9%
Asian	5.8%	6.3%
Under 18	27.6%	22.2%
65 and over	1.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Organ, NM 8 mi Butterfield Park, NM 10 mi University Park, NM 17 mi Tortugas, NM 18 mi Las Cruces, NM 19 mi

ZIP Codes in White Sands

White Sands, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88002

White Sands vs Other Cities

White Sands, NM vs Organ, NM White Sands, NM vs Butterfield Park, NM White Sands, NM vs University Park, NM White Sands, NM vs Tortugas, NM White Sands, NM vs Las Cruces, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is White Sands, NM affordable or expensive?

White Sands has a median home value of N/A and median rent of $1,280/month against a median household income of $88,750.

What is the crime rate in White Sands, NM?

White Sands'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 White Sands?

Public schools in White Sands 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. 45.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is White Sands, NM a good place to live?

White Sands, NM has a population of 1,449, a median household income of $88,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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 White Sands?

White Sands averages 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.9 inches with about 1.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in White Sands?

White Sands, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88002.

What is the population of White Sands?

The population of White Sands, New Mexico is 1,449 with a median age of 21.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in White Sands?

Key numbers for living in White Sands: median home N/A, median household income $88,750, crime index 146 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare White Sands side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.