The Town FilesWhite Rock, New Mexico
Community in Los Alamos County · population 5,852 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $500,700
- Household income
- $156,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.8
White Rock is a community of 5,852 people in Los Alamos County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $500,700, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for families than 100% of New Mexico towns, more upscale than 100% of New Mexico towns, better for retirees than 87% of New Mexico towns.
- #1 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in New Mexico
- #7 in The 17 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico
- #11 in 16 Small Towns in New Mexico With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #12 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in New Mexico
- #16 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
- #24 in The 50 Best Places for Families in America
How White Rock 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 White Rock is worth $500,700, above the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $156,639, which is more affordable than 54% of New Mexico towns. 97.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Rock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $500,700 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $156,639 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in White Rock
| People | White Rock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in White Rock
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 17.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.1 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of White Rock since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 21, 2018 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 1961.
Severe weather in Los Alamos County since 1996
Los Alamos County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2022 | Fire | DR-4652: Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 24, 2012 | Flood | DR-4079: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Los Alamos County
Los Alamos County had 22,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,944 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in White Rock itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in White Rock
2 public schools with 654 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PINON ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 352 | 13.5 |
| CHAMISA ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 302 | 10.8 |
Towns near White Rock
- Los Alamos, NM7.5 mi · 13,179 people · home $501,800
- Agua Fria, NM14.9 mi · 2,913 people · home $270,400
- Española, NM15.5 mi · 10,526 people · home $210,800
- Santa Fe, NM16.2 mi · 87,505 people · home $444,900
- La Cienega, NM16.7 mi · 3,885 people · home $517,100
- Chimayo, NM19.7 mi · 3,077 people · home $227,500
- Eldorado at Santa Fe, NM24.8 mi · 6,005 people · home $591,900
- San Felipe Pueblo, NM28.1 mi · 2,542 people · home $210,100
White Rock questions
Is White Rock, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Rock scores better for retirees than 87% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 63%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in White Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in White Rock is valued at $500,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,639, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in White Rock?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.1 inches of snow.
Does White Rock get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of White Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 21, 2018. 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)