Artesia, NM

Census place 3505220 · pop 12,576

D−44/ 100
🫤 Rough
D
in NM
📍 New Mexico ranks #41 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.50% · top 9%
🚽 Bad air36 days · bottom 8%
Taxes
0.50% property · US 0.99%7.67% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level36 days8

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

36 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults16.8%13

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

16.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Rent$2,583/mo15

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,583/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Violent crime rate494/100k17

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

494 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Adult obesity39.9%20

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

39.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher19.9%22

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

19.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Property crime rate2189/100k24

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2189 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Air quality (AQI)County-level49 AQI27

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

49 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access88.7%29

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poverty rate15.7%32

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity26.6%41

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Population growth (5yr)+2.6%48

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+2.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Median household income$74,91550

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$74,915 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Homeownership64.6%52

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

64.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Adult smoking12.8%54

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health16.8%55

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

16.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4357

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Housing cost$229,40063

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$229,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.9%83

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time18 min87

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

18 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level48/10090

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

48/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.50%91

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.50% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Frequently asked

Is Artesia, NM a good place to live?
By the numbers, Artesia scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is unhealthy air days. New Mexico overall ranks #41 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Artesia, NM?
Artesia reports 494 violent crimes per 100k and 2189 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Artesia, NM expensive to live in?
Artesia has a median home value of $229,400 and typical rent around $2,583/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Artesia, NM?
Its weakest measured area is unhealthy air days (36 days) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Artesia, NM best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.50%) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.