Alamogordo vs Carlsbad
Alamogordo, New Mexico versus Carlsbad, New Mexico: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Alamogordo edges out Carlsbad on overall objective livability (53 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Alamogordo | Carlsbad |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $51k | $77k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $47k |
| Home Value | $149k | $173k |
| Monthly Rent | $858 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.67% | 0.54% |
| Income Tax | 5.90% | 5.90% |
| Sales Tax | 7.62% | 7.62% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.37% | 9.62% |
| Unemployment | 6.7% | 3.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 44°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6 in | 12.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4 in | 2.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 332 days | 299 days |
| Summer Humidity | 50°F | 57°F |
| Comfortable Days | 51 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.4 | 89.7 |
| Air Quality | 17 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 40.4 | 54.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1938/100k | 1779/100k |
| Property Crime | 2432/100k | 2842/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 30,996 | 31,755 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 35.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.47 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.09 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | R+26 | R+53 |
| White (%) | 55.4% | 37.6% |
| Black (%) | 5.2% | 1.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 32.3% | 56.9% |
| Asian (%) | 2.1% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.1% | 2.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 9.3/20 | 8.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 78 mi | 133 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.3% | 82.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 20.33 | 25.19 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Alamogordo or Carlsbad more affordable?
- Alamogordo has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Alamogordo's $44k and Carlsbad's $47k. Median rent is $858 in Alamogordo versus $1k in Carlsbad.
- Is Alamogordo or Carlsbad safer?
- Carlsbad has the lower violent crime rate. Alamogordo reports 1938/100k and Carlsbad reports 1779/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Alamogordo or Carlsbad?
- The median home value is $149k in Alamogordo and $173k in Carlsbad, so homes are more affordable in Alamogordo.