The Town FilesArtesia, New Mexico
City in Eddy County · population 12,875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,400
- Household income
- $74,915
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 30.7
Artesia is a city of 12,875 people in Eddy County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $229,400, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of New Mexico towns, more walkable than 84% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 78% of New Mexico towns.
How Artesia ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Artesia is worth $229,400, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $74,915, which is more affordable than 58% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,288 a month. 64.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Artesia | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,400 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,288 | $916 |
| Median household income | $74,915 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Artesia
| People | Artesia | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 82.9% |
Weather in Artesia
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 12.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Artesia since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 10, 1989 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 17, 2016.
Severe weather in Eddy County since 1996
Eddy County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4199: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
Jobs and pay in Eddy County
Eddy County had 32,197 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,419 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Artesia itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Artesia
9 public schools with 3,704 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTESIA HIGH | 10-12 | 778 | 15.6 |
| ARTESIA PARK JUNIOR HIGH | 8-9 | 592 | 15.2 |
| ARTESIA ZIA INTERMEDIATE | 6-7 | 525 | 15.0 |
| YESO ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 483 | 18.6 |
| GRAND HEIGHTS EARLY CHILDHOOD | PK-K | 356 | 13.7 |
| YUCCA ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 350 | 18.4 |
| HERMOSA ELEMENTARY | 1-5 | 282 | 14.8 |
| ROSELAWN ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 180 | 9.5 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 158 | 13.2 |
Artesia questions
Is Artesia, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Artesia scores better for retirees than 10% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 9%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.7).
How much does a house cost in Artesia?
The median owner-occupied home in Artesia is valued at $229,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,915, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,288 a month.
What is the weather like in Artesia?
July highs average 95.1°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Artesia get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Artesia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 10, 1989. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)