Carlsbad, NM
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Carlsbad, New Mexico Summary

Life in Carlsbad research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Carlsbad over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Carlsbad:

  • The population in Carlsbad is 31,813.

  • The median home value in Carlsbad is $231,518.

  • The median income in Carlsbad is $78,277.

  • The cost of living in Carlsbad is 93 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Carlsbad is $1,206.

  • The unemployment rate in Carlsbad is 4.4%.

  • The poverty rate in Carlsbad is 13.0%.

  • The average high in Carlsbad is 78.5° and the average low is 48.2°.

Carlsbad SnackAbility

7
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
9
Safety
4
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Carlsbad, NM Crime Report

Crime in Carlsbad summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Carlsbad. Key points include:

  • There were 1,036 total crimes in Carlsbad in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Carlsbad is 3,315.9 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Carlsbad is 524.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Carlsbad is 2,791.0 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Carlsbad is 56.47% above the national average.

1,036
Total Crimes
56.47%
Above National Average

Crime In Carlsbad Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Carlsbad
/ 100k People
New Mexico
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,036 3,315.9 3,468.2 2,119.2
Violent Crime 164 524.9 717.1 359.0
Murder 1 3.2 10.5 5.0
Robbery 4 12.8 65.3 61.0
Aggravated Assault 148 473.7 587.5 256.0
Property Crime 872 2,791.0 2,751.1 1,760.0
Burglary 102 326.5 500.3 229.0
Larceny 641 2,051.7 1,750.9 1,272.0
Car Theft 129 412.9 499.9 259.0

Carlsbad, NM Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Carlsbad summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Carlsbad. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around New Mexico. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Carlsbad is 93 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Carlsbad is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Carlsbad is $231,518.

  • The median income in Carlsbad is $78,277.

93
Carlsbad's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Carlsbad Comparison Table

Living Expense Carlsbad New Mexico National Average
Overall 93 95 100
Services 99 96 100
Groceries 97 96 100
Health 93 95 100
Housing 92 87 100
Transportation 96 93 100
Utilities 98 89 100

Carlsbad, NM Weather

  • The average high in Carlsbad is 78.5° and the average low is 48.2°.

  • There are 26.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 13.8 inches of precipitation each year with 5.3 inches of snow.

StatCarlsbad
Average Annual High78.5
Average Annual Low48.2
Annual Precipitation Days26.7
Average Annual Precipitation13.8
Average Annual Snowfall5.3
78.5°
Average High
26.7
Days of Rain

Carlsbad, NM Photos

Carlsbadc Nm Panoramic
Source: Wikipedia User Emann15 | CC BY 3.0
Wikipedia Caverntheater Carlsbad Nm
Source: Wikipedia User Jengod | CC BY-SA 4.0
Carlsbad New Mexico Municipal Building
Source: Public Domain
Carlsbad New Mexico Public Library
Source: Public Domain
Carlsbad New Mexico Museum Art Center
Source: Public Domain

Rankings for Carlsbad in New Mexico

Locations Around Carlsbad

Map Of Carlsbad, NM

Best Places Around Carlsbad

1

Artesia, NM
Population 12,555

Carlsbad Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Carlsbad

The current population in Carlsbad is 31,813. The population has increased 23.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 31,813 0.2%
2022 31,755 0.7%
2021 31,525 7.7%
2020 29,278 0.4%
2019 29,158 1.1%
2018 28,838 1.6%
2017 28,393 1.1%
2016 28,079 1.8%
2015 27,592 2.2%
2014 26,996 1.5%
2013 26,591 1.7%
2012 26,158 0.9%
2011 25,917 0.9%
2010 25,698 -

Race / Ethnicity in Carlsbad

White
39.9% (12,680)
African American
2.2% (689)
American Indian
0.6% (175)
Asian
0.9% (283)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
1.3% (402)
Two Or More
1.9% (589)
Hispanic
53.4% (16,995)

Carlsbad is:

  • 39.9% White with 12,680 White residents.

  • 2.2% African American with 689 African American residents.

  • 0.6% American Indian with 175 American Indian residents.

  • 0.9% Asian with 283 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 1.3% Other with 402 Other residents.

  • 1.9% Two Or More with 589 Two Or More residents.

  • 53.4% Hispanic with 16,995 Hispanic residents.

Race Carlsbad NM USA
White 39.9% 36.5% 58.2%
African American 2.2% 1.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.6% 8.6% 0.5%
Asian 0.9% 1.6% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 1.3% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 1.9% 2.8% 3.9%
Hispanic 53.4% 48.2% 19.0%

Gender in Carlsbad

Female
49.7% (15,798)
Male
50.3% (16,015)
  • Carlsbad is 49.7% female with 15,798 female residents.

  • Carlsbad is 50.3% male with 16,015 male residents.

Gender Carlsbad NM USA
Female 49.7% 50.3% 50.5%
Male 50.3% 49.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Carlsbad for adults over 25

  • 7.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed < 9th grade.

  • 11.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed 9-12th grade.

  • 27.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed high school / ged.

  • 26.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed associate's degree.

  • 12.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Carlsbad completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
7.0% (2,226)
9-12th Grade
11.0% (3,499)
High School / GED
27.0% (8,589)
Some College
26.0% (8,271)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (2,863)
Bachelor's Degree
12.0% (3,817)
Master's Degree
6.0% (1,908)
Professional Degree
1.0% (318)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (318)
Education Carlsbad NM USA
< 9th Grade 7.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 11.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 27.0% 26.0% 26.0%
Some College 26.0% 23.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 12.0% 17.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Carlsbad, New Mexico

  • 6.3% of households in Carlsbad earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.0% of households in Carlsbad earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 6.8% of households in Carlsbad earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.7% of households in Carlsbad earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 9.4% of households in Carlsbad earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 11.5% of households in Carlsbad earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.0% of households in Carlsbad earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 18.0% of households in Carlsbad earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 11.9% of households in Carlsbad earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 8.3% of households in Carlsbad earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.3% (201,322)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.0% (159,933)
$15,000 to $24,999
6.8% (217,162)
$25,000 to $34,999
8.7% (278,223)
$35,000 to $49,999
9.4% (297,640)
$50,000 to $74,999
11.5% (367,387)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.0% (444,799)
$100,000 to $149,999
18.0% (573,819)
$150,000 to $199,999
11.9% (377,351)
$200,000 or more
8.3% (263,660)
Income Carlsbad NM USA
Less than $10,000 6.3% 6.6% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.0% 5.2% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 6.8% 9.1% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.7% 8.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 9.4% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 11.5% 17.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.0% 12.4% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 18.0% 15.1% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 11.9% 7.2% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 8.3% 7.1% 12.6%

Articles About New Mexico

Enjoy The Snack?