City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Melrose, NM

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

536
Residents
$33,333
Median income
$78,600
Median home
$1,098
Median rent (state)

Melrose - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Melrose places in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
28th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Melrose, NM

536 people live in Melrose, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Melrose households earn a median of $33,333 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 36.7%. Typical homes in Melrose are valued around $78,600, and the median resident age is 48.8 years. Educational attainment runs 5.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 40.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Melrose's yearly average temperature at 59.1°F with 16.2 inches of precipitation per year and 11.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Mexico scores 92.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,098 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Mexico's average monthly utility costs around $167 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 61.8 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

536 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$33,333 /yr

Poverty 36.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Melrose compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% pricier than other cities

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

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 Melrose'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.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Melrose's home value compares nationally

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

$78,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Melrose $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 - Melrose, NM Melrose, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Melrose, 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 Melrose, NM median $33,333/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%
Melrose, 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 Melrose, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 36.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.0%

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

Population
536
Median Income
$33,333
Median Home Value
$78,600
Median Age
48.8
Poverty Rate
36.7%
Labor force participation
40.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
59.1°F
Annual Precipitation
16.2"
Annual Snowfall
11.0"

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 →
600 residents610 residents620 residents630 residents 202020212022202320242025 625 residents 603 residents ▼ -3.5%
Melrose's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.9%
Carpool
16.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.2%

Based on 172 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 Melrose sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,098/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
61.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Pueblitos
534 people
East Pecos
529 people
Sundance
527 people
La Mesa
548 people
Vaughn
548 people
Fruitland
521 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Melrose's 536 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pennington, AL
536 people
Cincinnati, AR
536 people
Clarkedale, AR
536 people
Adrian, GA
536 people
Belleville, IN
536 people
Noxapater, MS
536 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Melrose's $33,333 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Akiachak, AK
$33,333 median income
Jacob City, FL
$33,333 median income
Bodfish, CA
$33,295 median income
Bon Aqua Junction, TN
$33,295 median income
River Falls, AL
$33,281 median income
Di Giorgio, CA
$33,281 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Melrose, 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 Melrose, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.6% 10.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.0% White 83.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 10.6% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Melrose 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
Melrose (this city) 536 $33,333
Pueblitos 534 $64,821
East Pecos 529 N/A
Sundance 527 $35,833
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Melrose, NM?

What is the population of Melrose, NM? +

Melrose, NM counts 536 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Melrose is $33,333 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Melrose? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Melrose; 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.

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

Melrose's median home value sits at $78,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Melrose? +

Climate normals put Melrose's yearly average temperature at 59.1°F, 16.2 inches of precipitation, and 11.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.