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Carlsbad vs Hobbs

Carlsbad, New Mexico versus Hobbs, New Mexico: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Carlsbad

Mixed · objective livability47/100

Hobbs

Mixed · objective livability41/100

Carlsbad edges out Hobbs on overall objective livability (47 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorCarlsbadHobbs
Affordability
Median Household Income$77k$64k
Cost of Living$47k$48k
Home Value$173k$165k
Monthly Rent$1k$1k
Monthly Owner Costs$1k$1k
Property Tax Rate0.54%0.47%
Income Tax5.90%5.90%
Sales Tax7.62%7.62%
Estimated total tax burden9.62%9.63%
Unemployment3.0%7.4%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)44°F45°F
Summer Temp (Jul)82°F84°F
Annual Precipitation12.6 in13.8 in
Annual Snowfall2.7 in1.8 in
Sunny Days299 days302 days
Summer Humidity57°F58°F
Comfortable Days61 days62 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk89.784.4
Air Quality51 AQI48 AQI
School Quality54.454.4
Violent Crime1779/100k3546/100k
Property Crime2842/100k4834/100k
Community
Population31,75539,782
Median Age35.030.8
Racial Diversity0.510.59
Male/Female Ratio1.021.11
Political LeaningR+53R+61
White (%)37.6%29.0%
Black (%)1.9%5.1%
Hispanic (%)56.9%62.8%
Asian (%)1.0%1.0%
Other / Multiracial (%)2.6%2.2%
Getting Around
Commute Time21 min24 min
Walkability8.9/208.6/20
Airport Distance133 mi198 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.4%82.8%
Amenities Nearby25.1913.83
Park & Nature AccessExcellentLimited

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 Carlsbad or Hobbs more affordable?
Carlsbad has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Carlsbad's $47k and Hobbs's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Carlsbad versus $1k in Hobbs.
Is Carlsbad or Hobbs safer?
Carlsbad has the lower violent crime rate. Carlsbad reports 1779/100k and Hobbs reports 3546/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Carlsbad or Hobbs?
The median home value is $173k in Carlsbad and $165k in Hobbs, so homes are more affordable in Hobbs.
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