City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Capitan, NM

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Capitan - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,262
Residents
$50,299
Median income
$128,800
Median home
$999
Median rent (state)

Capitan - the verdict

Nationally, Capitan sits in the 20th percentile for household income and the 69th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

20th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
69th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Capitan, NM

New Mexico's Capitan is a small town, with 1,262 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Capitan households earn a median of $50,299 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.5%. Typical homes in Capitan are valued around $128,800, and the median resident age is 52.2 years. 20.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Capitan reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 862.7 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 53.6°F with 16.6 inches of precipitation per year and 27.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Mexico at 92.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $999 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Mexico run around $167, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 79.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

1,262 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$50,299 /yr

Poverty 11.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Capitan compare to other US cities?

Capitan measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 69% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at New Mexico, Capitan ranks #9 of 42 New Mexico cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Capitan's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Mexico, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

20thIncome percentile
69thSafety percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income · 69th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Capitan's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Capitan's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Capitan's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Capitan's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$128,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Capitan $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Capitan, NM Capitan, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Capitan, NM-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Capitan, NM median $50,299/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Capitan, NM's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Capitan, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,262
Median Income
$50,299
Median Home Value
$128,800
Median Age
52.2
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Labor force participation
48.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
862.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
215.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
647.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.6°F
Annual Precipitation
16.6"
Annual Snowfall
27.3"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,390 residents1,400 residents1,410 residents1,420 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,400 residents 1,402 residents ▲ +0.1%
Capitan's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.5%
Carpool
11.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
6.9%

Based on 467 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Mexico - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$167
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Mexico state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Mexico state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Capitan sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$999/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Cloudcroft
1,275 people
Alamo
1,242 people
Taos Pueblo
1,294 people
Mountainair
1,308 people
Waterflow
1,215 people
McIntosh
1,310 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Capitan's 1,262 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Divernon, IL
1,262 people
Hebron Estates, KY
1,262 people
Pender, NE
1,262 people
Larimore, ND
1,262 people
Grandview, OK
1,262 people
Red Corral, CA
1,263 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Capitan's $50,299 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rainbow Lakes Estates, FL
$50,298 median income
Bryan, OH
$50,295 median income
Fredonia, AL
$50,294 median income
Farmington, MS
$50,294 median income
Coleman, TX
$50,294 median income
Anderson, CA
$50,306 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Capitan, NM Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Capitan, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% 9.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33.5% White 89.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 9.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Capitan compares to nearby New Mexico cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Capitan (this city) 1,262 $50,299
Cloudcroft 1,275 $38,428
Alamo 1,242 $24,427
Taos Pueblo 1,294 $36,979
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Capitan, NM?

What is the population of Capitan, NM? +

Capitan, NM counts 1,262 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Capitan, NM? +

Median annual household income in Capitan runs $50,299, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Capitan? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Capitan; the closest available measure is the New Mexico state average, a cost of living index of 92.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Mexico vary by metro area.

Is Capitan, NM safe? +

Capitan has a total crime rate of 862.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Capitan, NM? +

The median home value in Capitan is $128,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Capitan? +

Capitan has an average annual temperature of 53.6°F, 16.6 inches of precipitation, and 27.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.