The Town FilesTucumcari, New Mexico
City in Quay County · population 5,278 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $64,100
- Household income
- $31,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.7
Tucumcari is a city of 5,278 people in Quay County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $64,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of New Mexico towns, more walkable than 86% of New Mexico towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of New Mexico towns.
How Tucumcari 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 Tucumcari is worth $64,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $31,844, which is more affordable than 87% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $704 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tucumcari | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $64,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $704 | $916 |
| Median household income | $31,844 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Tucumcari
| People | Tucumcari | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 8.2 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in Tucumcari
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 16.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 92 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tucumcari since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 1963 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Quay County since 1996
Quay County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| April 2, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1690: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 10, 2000 | Fire | EM-3154: Severe Fire Threats |
Jobs and pay in Quay County
Quay County had 2,508 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,268 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Tucumcari itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Tucumcari
3 public schools with 897 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUCUMCARI ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 460 | 14.8 |
| TUCUMCARI MIDDLE | 6-8 | 226 | 16.1 |
| TUCUMCARI HIGH | 9-12 | 211 | 13.2 |
Tucumcari questions
Is Tucumcari, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tucumcari scores better for retirees than 55% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 22%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Tucumcari?
The median owner-occupied home in Tucumcari is valued at $64,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,844, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $704 a month.
What is the weather like in Tucumcari?
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.9 inches of snow.
Does Tucumcari get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tucumcari since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 1963. 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)