At a Glance
Median Income
$74,187
$26,333 per capita
Home Value
$112,500
Zillow: $182,089
Median Rent
$858/mo
13.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
14.6%
86.0% high school+
Unemployment
6.0%
19.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.1%
15.4% smoking rate
How Plains Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Plains's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Plains a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Plains residents earn a median household income of $74,187 , which is 1% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,333. The unemployment rate stands at 6.0% (67% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 277 business establishments, including 17 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Plains is $112,500 , 60% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $182,089. Median rent is $858/month, with 13.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1982.
Education
14.6% of adults in Plains hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(57% below the national average).
86.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Plains has an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C).
Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 16.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,190
Median Age25.7 yrs
Density793/mi²
Male / Female39% / 61%
Foreign Born10.0%
Veterans2.3%
Economy
B
Median Income$74,187
Per Capita$26,333
Unemployment6.0%
Poverty19.7%
County GDP$2,525M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,522
Housing
A+
Home Value$112,500
Rent$858
Ownership72.3%
Zillow$182,089
Housing Units475
Rent Burden13.5%
Health
Obesity41.1%
Diabetes15.0%
Smoking15.4%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death12,474/100K
Climate
Avg Temp60°F
Rain16.2 in/yr
Elevation3,632 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.6%
High School+86.0%
Graduate+0.0%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 85% / D 14%
Commute32 min
Broadband99.0%
Internet Speed38 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Plains was built in 1982.
The nearest airport is Lea County Regional (42 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.424 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.3% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.