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Tatum, NM
Town in Lea County, New Mexico.
Population
598
Land area
1.6sq mi
People per sq mi
377
ZIP codes
0
Tatum and its ZIP codes
Tatum at a glance
- Tatum is about 22 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $111,200 (55% below New Mexico) and median rent is $943 a month.
Local data for Tatum, NM
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Tatum, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Poverty rate
20.4%
Median home value
$111,200
Median rent
$943/mo
Homeownership
74.8%
Bachelor's or higher
22.4%
Median age
34.7
Average commute
32.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (274), Irish Americans (97), German Americans (24).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lea County. PPP loans are for Tatum.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Sep 2026, +0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$71,747
34,047 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,387
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$305M
FY 2026, $4,097 per person
How people get to work
Tatum, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.9%
- Carpooled30.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home0.0%
Average one-way commute: 32.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Tatum, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
924
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
715
2.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 23°F
15.2 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Tatum, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.5%
U.S. 33.3% +1.2 pts
Diabetes
11.3%
U.S. 12.1% -0.8 pts
Smoking
13.2%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
17.2%
U.S. 11.1% +6.1 pts
Cities near Tatum
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| LovingtonCity | 23 mi | 11.2 |
| Plains, TXTown | 29 mi | 1.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Tatum, NM in?
- Tatum is in Lea County, New Mexico.
- What is the population of Tatum, NM?
- About 598 people live in Tatum, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Tatum?
- Nearby places include Lovington (23 mi), Plains, TX (29 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023