Carlsbad, New Mexico
Among the top 12% of US places for weather.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 40% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade A, better than 88% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 2% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 72% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 43% of US places
- top 5% for sunny days
- top 15% for property tax rate
- bottom 8% for property crime
Carlsbad is a mid-size city in New Mexico with about 32,000 residents. It grades A for weather and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include sunny days, property tax rate, and commute time. It rates lower on natural disaster risk and property crime.
Official websitecityofcarlsbadnm.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, dry summers · Cool winters · Dry · Light snow
cool
comf.
warm
hot
swelt.
hot
warm
comf.
cool
86%77%clearovercast
Precipitation 1.6 in0.6 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$77k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$47kbetter than 43% of US places
Home Value$173k53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 30% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 44% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.54%better than 85% of US places
Income Tax5.90%better than 33% of US places
Sales Tax7.62%better than 44% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.62%better than 53% of US places
Unemployment3.0%better than 58% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)44°F78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)82°F84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation12.6 in5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall2.7 inbetter than 72% of US places
Sunny Days299 daysbetter than 95% of US places
Summer Humidity57°Fbetter than 81% of US places
Comfortable Days61 daysbetter than 14% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk89.7better than 11% of US places
Air Quality51 AQIbetter than 20% of US places
School Quality54.4better than 43% of US places
Violent Crime1779/100kbetter than 11% of US places
Property Crime2842/100kbetter than 8% of US places
Community
Population31,75596th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.022nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5185th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0260th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+5381st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)37.6%13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.9%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)56.9%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.0%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.6%46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 82% of US places
Walkability8.9/20better than 81% of US places
Airport Distance133 mibetter than 23% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.4%better than 37% of US places
Amenities Nearby25.19better than 25% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 82% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Carlsbad an affordable place to live?
- Carlsbad is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $47k, better than 43% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Carlsbad?
- The median home value in Carlsbad is $173k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Carlsbad?
- Median household income in Carlsbad is $77k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Carlsbad?
- Median gross rent in Carlsbad is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Carlsbad safe?
- Carlsbad is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1779/100k (better than 11%). Property crime is 2842/100k.
- What is the weather like in Carlsbad?
- Carlsbad averages 82°F in July and 44°F in January, with 12.6 in of annual precipitation and about 299 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Carlsbad?
- Public-school quality in Carlsbad is about average, scoring better than 43% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Carlsbad?
- The average one-way commute in Carlsbad is 21 min.
Places near Carlsbad
Compare Carlsbad
Explore New Mexico
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)