Elephant Butte, NM

Full City Profile · New Mexico · Sierra County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
1,586 Population 379/sq mi density
$45,179 Median Income $36,575 per capita
$166,800 Home Value $241,448 Zillow
$1,169 Median Rent 51.0% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$45,179 median income, 3.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$166,800 home value, $1,169/mo rent
C+
Education
2.5 / 5.0
19.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Elephant Butte, NM

At a Glance

Median Income
$45,179
40% below
$36,575 per capita
Home Value
$166,800
41% below
Zillow: $241,448
Median Rent
$1,169/mo
1% above
51.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%
44% below
97.2% high school+
Unemployment
3.7%
3% above
3.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
33.6%
5% above
13.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F

How Elephant Butte Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Elephant Butte's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
60%
Home Value
59%
Rent
101%
Poverty
26%
Bachelor's
56%
Unemployment
103%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Elephant Butte a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Elephant Butte residents earn a median household income of $45,179 , which is 40% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $36,575. The unemployment rate stands at 3.7% (3% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 386 business establishments, including 45 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Elephant Butte is $166,800 , 41% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $241,448. Median rent is $1,169/month, with 51.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1992.

Education

19.0% of adults in Elephant Butte hold a bachelor's degree or higher (44% below the national average). 97.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Elephant Butte has an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 9.2 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population1,586
Median Age66.1 yrs
Density379/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born2.7%
Veterans31.0%

Economy

B+
Median Income$45,179
Per Capita$36,575
Unemployment3.7%
Poverty3.2%
County GDP$423M
Avg Weekly Wage$852

Housing

A+
Home Value$166,800
Rent$1,169
Ownership86.0%
Zillow$241,448
Housing Units1,641
Rent Burden51.0%

Health

Obesity33.6%
Diabetes8.9%
Smoking13.6%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death17,438/100K

Climate

Avg Temp62°F
Rain9.2 in/yr
Elevation4,514 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+19.0%
High School+97.2%
Graduate+4.3%
School Score4.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 58% / D 39%
Commute11 min
Broadband71.9%
Internet Speed20 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Elephant Butte was built in 1992.
The nearest airport is Las Cruces International (64 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.469 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
33.2% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.