The Town Files

Chaves County, New Mexico

64,217 people. The median home is worth $156,400 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $52,938.

Towns in Chaves County

Towns in Chaves County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Roswell48,422$152,600$51,58337.1

People and housing

Chaves CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$156,400$187,400
Median rent$867$916
Median household income$52,938$55,614
Median age37.239.9
Bachelor's degree or higher17.9%18.7%
Below the poverty line24.3%18.0%

Jobs and pay

21,658 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,769 a year.

Largest industries in Chaves CountyHealth care & social assistan…3,714 jobs · $46,176Hotels & restaurants3,136 jobs · $22,426Retail2,887 jobs · $34,986Wholesale trade885 jobs · $51,274Manufacturing880 jobs · $60,757Agriculture, forestry & fishi…874 jobs · $45,698
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Chaves County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 694 storm events in Chaves County from 1996 to 2026, with 8 deaths.

Storm events in Chaves County by type since 1996Hail225Flood18Drought126Tornado25High Wind75Dust Storm21Heavy Rain2Heavy Snow15Flash Flood61Funnel Cloud12
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Chaves County has been included in 9 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 10, 2025FloodEM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides
November 1, 2024FloodDR-4843: Severe Storm And Flooding
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3460: Covid-19
October 29, 2013FloodDR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).