At a Glance
Median Income
$28,167
$24,282 per capita
Home Value
$48,300
Zillow: $299,604
Median Rent
$282/mo
17.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
10.6%
70.5% high school+
Unemployment
8.8%
33.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
43.8%
28.7% smoking rate
How Mescalero Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Mescalero's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Mescalero a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Mescalero residents earn a median household income of $28,167 , which is 63% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $24,282. The unemployment rate stands at 8.8% (144% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 33.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 888 business establishments, including 106 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Mescalero is $48,300 , 83% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $299,604. Median rent is $282/month, with 17.9% 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 1978.
Education
10.6% of adults in Mescalero hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(69% below the national average).
70.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Mescalero has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C).
Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 19.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population814
Median Age44.1 yrs
Density46/mi²
Male / Female58% / 42%
Foreign Born3.3%
Veterans5.6%
Economy
F
Median Income$28,167
Per Capita$24,282
Unemployment8.8%
Poverty33.0%
County GDP$894M
Avg Weekly Wage$831
Housing
A+
Home Value$48,300
Rent$282
Ownership70.8%
Zillow$299,604
Housing Units443
Rent Burden17.9%
Health
Obesity43.8%
Diabetes16.8%
Smoking28.7%
Heart Disease8.2%
Premature Death12,621/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Rain19.3 in/yr
Elevation8,051 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+10.6%
High School+70.5%
Graduate+3.5%
School Score4.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 68% / D 30%
Commute16 min
Broadband72.7%
Internet Speed50 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Mescalero was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Alamogordo-White Sands Regional (23 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.488 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
23.9% of the population has a disability.
There are 106 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.
455 declared natural disasters on record.