New Mexico city profile

Living in Carlsbad, New Mexico

What it costs to live in Carlsbad, and how it compares with other New Mexico cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

92

1st best value in New Mexico

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New Mexico cities.

Overall livability

88

1st overall in New Mexico

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Carlsbad is home to about 31,525 people. A typical home runs $159,500 and a household earns around $70,700, a price-to-income ratio of 2.2. Among New Mexico's largest cities, it ranks 1st for value and 1st overall.

Carlsbad at a glance

Median home price

$159,500

1st in NM of 14

Median rent

$1,112/mo

Median household income

$70,700

Home price to income

2.2x

Unemployment

2.7%

1st in NM of 14

School rating

6/10

1st in NM of 14

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NM of 14

Walk score

2/100

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‹ See all top New Mexico cities ranked  ยท  New Mexico state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New Mexico only. Updated 2026.