City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Mountainair, NM

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

1,308
Residents
$41,678
Median income
$97,000
Median home
$1,464
Median rent (state)

Mountainair - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Mountainair lands in the 9th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
9th
percentile, home value
57th
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: Mountainair, NM

New Mexico's Mountainair is a small town, with 1,308 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Mountainair households earn a median of $41,678 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.0%. Home values in Mountainair run a median of $97,000, and the median resident age is 26.9 years. About 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 40.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Mountainair's yearly average temperature at 53.7°F with 12.9 inches of precipitation per year and 14.1 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: the state registers 92.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,464 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Mexico run around $167, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 46.2 out of 100 (Low).

Population

1,308 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$41,678 /yr

Poverty 14.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Mountainair compare to other US cities?

Here's how Mountainair stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 9% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% 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

Each percentile compares Mountainair against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Mexico only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Mexico-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Mountainair toward the bottom of New Mexico's cities

Among the 324 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Mountainair ranks #260 - the 20th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mountainair only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#237 of 324
27th percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#77 of 409
64th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#260 of 324
20th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#189 of 408
53rd percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#281 of 409
31st percentile in New Mexico

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Mexico only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mountainair's home value compares nationally

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

$97,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% 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. Mountainair $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 - Mountainair, NM Mountainair, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mountainair, 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 Mountainair, NM median $41,678/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%
Mountainair, 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 Mountainair, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.2%

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

Population
1,308
Median Income
$41,678
Median Home Value
$97,000
Median Age
26.9
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Labor force participation
40.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.7°F
Annual Precipitation
12.9"
Annual Snowfall
14.1"

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 →
860 residents880 residents900 residents920 residents940 residents 202020212022202320242025 879 residents 932 residents ▲ +6.0%
Mountainair's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.1%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.3%
Work from Home
24.2%

Based on 396 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 Mountainair sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,464/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
46.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

McIntosh
1,310 people
Loving
1,317 people
Taos Pueblo
1,294 people
Cloudcroft
1,275 people
Capitan
1,262 people
Alamo
1,242 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mountainair's 1,308 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kibler, AR
1,308 people
Brookdale, CA
1,308 people
Lakes West, CT
1,308 people
Plains, KS
1,308 people
Purdy, MO
1,308 people
Elbridge, NY
1,308 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mountainair's $41,678 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lakehead, CA
$41,684 median income
Caraway, AR
$41,667 median income
Crows Landing, CA
$41,667 median income
Grover, CO
$41,667 median income
Thawville, IL
$41,667 median income
Sylvan Grove, KS
$41,667 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mountainair, 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 Mountainair, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 50.1% 14.8% 18.4% 16.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 53.6% White 50.1% Black or African American 14.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 18.4% Two or more races 16.6% 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 Mountainair 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
Mountainair (this city) 1,308 $41,678
McIntosh 1,310 $65,116
Loving 1,317 $60,203
Taos Pueblo 1,294 $36,979
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mountainair, NM?

What is the population of Mountainair, NM? +

1,308 people live in Mountainair, NM according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Mountainair households earn a median of $41,678 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mountainair? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mountainair; 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 Mountainair, NM? +

A typical home in Mountainair is worth $97,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Mountainair? +

The average annual temperature in Mountainair runs 53.7°F, 12.9 inches of precipitation, and 14.1 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

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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.