Carlsbad, New Mexico Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Carlsbad, NM Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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C
Health Below average
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C
Income Below average
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F
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,405 | 2,118,085 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 670.4 | 17.4 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.00% | 0.20% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 37.1 | 38.1 | 37.3 |
| Households | 8,405 | 836,644 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Carlsbad grew by 10.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 21,405 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Carlsbad is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 22.5% of residents. That is 0.9 points above New Mexico as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 4,815 22.5% +0.9 pts
- Millennials 29–44 4,670 21.8% +0.5 pts
- Gen X 45–60 3,905 18.2% -0.5 pts
- Boomers 61–79 3,246 15.2% -3.3 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below New Mexico, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 49.1% of the people living in Carlsbad and men 50.9%.
- Women 49.1% New Mexico 50.5%
- Men 50.9% New Mexico 49.5%
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Economy
Carlsbad has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,505 | $64,523 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.61% | 4.42% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Carlsbad is about 6% higher than in New Mexico.
Housing
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $270,840 | $204,122 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,093 | $1,067 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 70.0% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Carlsbad is about 20.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,093 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Carlsbad spend about 32 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 132 hours, about 5.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.9 | 18.8 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 31.8 | 37.7 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 132 | 157 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,107 | $4,866 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.2% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,830 | 4,931 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,649 | 619 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Carlsbad is 16 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in New Mexico.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Carlsbad has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 26.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.47 | 2.49 | 2.53 |
Health
Carlsbad has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Carlsbad | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.1 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.8% | 17.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.7% | 18.0% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carlsbad, New Mexico.
How many people live in Carlsbad, New Mexico?
About 21,405 people live in Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 8,405 households of 2.5 people on average. The median age is 37.1, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
How densely populated is Carlsbad, New Mexico?
Averaged over its land area, Carlsbad, New Mexico has 670 people per square mile, a density typical of a mix of suburbs, small towns and farmland. That is about 7.8 times the U.S. average of 86.
Is Carlsbad, New Mexico an affordable place to live?
The median home costs 4.0 times the median household income ($270,840 against $68,505), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,093 a month takes about 19% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How common is a college degree in Carlsbad, New Mexico?
13.1% of adults in Carlsbad, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 8), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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