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Mescalero, NM

Census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico.

Population

832

Land area

17.9sq mi

People per sq mi

47

ZIP codes

0

Mescalero and its ZIP codes

Full map

Mescalero at a glance

  • Mescalero is about 2.7 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
  • The median household income is $24,313, 62% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $43,300 (83% below New Mexico) and median rent is $260 a month.

Local data for Mescalero, NM

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Mescalero, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$24,313

Poverty rate

42.7%

Median home value

$43,300

Median rent

$260/mo

Homeownership

72.2%

Bachelor's or higher

7.7%

Median age

44.6

Average commute

17.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (46), Irish Americans (7), Italian Americans (6).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Otero County. PPP loans are for Mescalero.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Aug 2026, +0.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$51,656

17,539 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$44,665

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$698M

FY 2026, $10,286 per person

Otero County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Mescalero, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone76.3%
  • Carpooled17.7%
  • Public transit2.7%
  • Walked1.7%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
  • Worked from home0.0%

Average one-way commute: 17.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Mescalero, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: wildfire

Storm events since 1996

830

Countywide, mostly drought

Flood insurance policies

757

2.7% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

81° / 26°F

19.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Mescalero, NM, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

44.0%

U.S. 33.3% +10.7 pts

Diabetes

15.9%

U.S. 12.1% +3.8 pts

Smoking

29.0%

U.S. 12.8% +16.2 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

14.1%

U.S. 11.1% +3.0 pts

Cities near Mescalero

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
BentCensus-designated place3.9 mi6.1
CloudcroftVillage14 mi1.6
TularosaVillage14 mi2.8
High RollsCensus-designated place15 mi15.4
La LuzCensus-designated place15 mi10.7
Twin ForksCensus-designated place17 mi4.1
Ruidoso DownsCity17 mi3.8
AlamogordoCity21 mi21.6
MayhillCensus-designated place25 mi9.5
Boles AcresCensus-designated place25 mi12.2
RuidosoVillage26 mi16.1
NogalCensus-designated place28 mi7.6
SacramentoCensus-designated place28 mi6.5
Holloman AFBCensus-designated place28 mi12.6
WeedCensus-designated place29 mi9
CapitanVillage29 mi3.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Mescalero, NM in?
Mescalero is in Otero County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Mescalero, NM?
About 832 people live in Mescalero, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Mescalero?
Nearby places include Bent (3.9 mi), Cloudcroft (14 mi), Tularosa (14 mi), High Rolls (15 mi), La Luz (15 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023