Alamogordo vs South Valley
Alamogordo, New Mexico versus South Valley, 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 South Valley on overall objective livability (53 vs 49 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Alamogordo | South Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $51k | $45k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $44k |
| Home Value | $149k | $184k |
| Monthly Rent | $858 | $873 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.67% | 0.78% |
| Income Tax | 5.90% | 5.90% |
| Sales Tax | 7.62% | 7.62% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.37% | 11.62% |
| Unemployment | 6.7% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 37°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 81°F | 79°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6 in | 9.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4 in | 6.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 332 days | 291 days |
| Summer Humidity | 50°F | 44°F |
| Comfortable Days | 51 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.4 | 38.7 |
| Air Quality | 17 AQI | 71 AQI |
| School Quality | 40.4 | 52.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1938/100k | 2629/100k |
| Property Crime | 2432/100k | 4443/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 30,996 | 37,601 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 39.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.47 | 0.65 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.09 | 1.03 |
| Political Leaning | R+26 | D+25 |
| White (%) | 55.4% | 15.0% |
| Black (%) | 5.2% | 0.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 32.3% | 81.9% |
| Asian (%) | 2.1% | 0.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.1% | 2.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 27 min |
| Walkability | 9.3/20 | 10.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 78 mi | 4 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.3% | 76.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 20.33 | 57.98 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
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 South Valley more affordable?
- South Valley has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Alamogordo's $44k and South Valley's $44k. Median rent is $858 in Alamogordo versus $873 in South Valley.
- Is Alamogordo or South Valley safer?
- Alamogordo has the lower violent crime rate. Alamogordo reports 1938/100k and South Valley reports 2629/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Alamogordo or South Valley?
- The median home value is $149k in Alamogordo and $184k in South Valley, so homes are more affordable in Alamogordo.