The Town FilesKirtland AFB, New Mexico
Community in Bernalillo County · population 3,838 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $84,884
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 24.4
Kirtland AFB is a community of 3,838 people in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of New Mexico towns, more upscale than 89% of New Mexico towns, better for cycling than 89% of New Mexico towns.
How Kirtland AFB 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
Median rent is $1,794 a month. 2.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kirtland AFB | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,794 | $916 |
| Median household income | $84,884 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 2.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kirtland AFB
| People | Kirtland AFB | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 2.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 29.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 8.7 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in Kirtland AFB
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 8.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirtland AFB since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 31, 1965 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 15, 1969.
Severe weather in Bernalillo County since 1996
Bernalillo County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| June 16, 2016 | Fire | FM-5127: Dog Head Fire |
| September 30, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4148: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2880: White Fire |
Jobs and pay in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County had 347,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,493 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Kirtland AFB itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Towns near Kirtland AFB
- Albuquerque, NM6.2 mi · 564,559 people · home $291,500
- South Valley, NM7.4 mi · 38,338 people · home $224,300
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM9.2 mi · 5,874 people · home $492,400
- North Valley, NM9.3 mi · 11,149 people · home $302,700
- Sandia Heights, NM9.7 mi · 3,273 people · home $670,100
- Paradise Hills, NM13.1 mi · 4,329 people · home $254,600
- Corrales, NM13.8 mi · 8,493 people · home $571,500
- Bosque Farms, NM15.6 mi · 4,020 people · home $293,100
Kirtland AFB questions
Is Kirtland AFB, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kirtland AFB scores better for retirees than 0% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 2%. 2.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.4).
What is the weather like in Kirtland AFB?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Kirtland AFB get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirtland AFB since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 31, 1965. 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)