The Town FilesEunice, New Mexico
City in Lea County · population 3,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,800
- Household income
- $49,087
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 29.5
Eunice is a city of 3,056 people in Lea County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $139,800, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 100% of New Mexico towns, better for families than 76% of New Mexico towns.
How Eunice 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 Eunice is worth $139,800, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $49,087, which is more affordable than 67% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $721 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eunice | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,800 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $721 | $916 |
| Median household income | $49,087 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Eunice
| People | Eunice | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 33.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.8% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.1% | 82.9% |
Weather in Eunice
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 13.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eunice since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 30, 1999 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on November 2, 2024.
Severe weather in Lea County since 1996
Lea County has been included in 7 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 |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lea County
Lea County had 33,770 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Eunice itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Eunice
3 public schools with 722 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| METTIE JORDAN ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 339 | 15.4 |
| EUNICE HIGH | 9-12 | 220 | 15.7 |
| CATON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 163 | 12.5 |
Towns near Eunice
- Hobbs, NM20.3 mi · 40,508 people · home $191,300
- North Hobbs, NM23.3 mi · 6,529 people · home $264,400
Eunice questions
Is Eunice, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eunice scores better for retirees than 7% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 21%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.5).
How much does a house cost in Eunice?
The median owner-occupied home in Eunice is valued at $139,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,087, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $721 a month.
What is the weather like in Eunice?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Eunice get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eunice since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 30, 1999. 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)