Carlsbad ( KARLZ-bad) is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 32,238. Carlsbad is centered at the intersection of U.S. Routes 62/180 and 285, and is the principal city of the Carlsbad-Artesia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 62,314. Located in the southeastern part of New Mexico, Carlsbad straddles the Pecos River and sits at the eastern edge of the Guadalupe Mountains. Carlsbad is a hub for potash mining, petroleum production, and tourism. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of the city, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park lies 54 miles (87 km)…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Carlsbad ranks

All →

#5Fastest growing in NM #2Rent easiest to afford in NM #7Most-used libraries in NM All NM rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code88220, 88221

Area code575

Living in Carlsbad

Housing in Carlsbad

$257K▲ 2.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Carlsbad home is worth about $257,000, up 2.2% in a year, 19% below the New Mexico typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market48

Sold in May37

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Carlsbad

Safety Grade D

Carlsbad reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less. Within New Mexico, it does better than 34% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Carlsbad 5.8

New Mexico 6.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Carlsbad 27

New Mexico 23.5

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Carlsbad

Full picture →

57% of Carlsbad’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Albuquerque (4%), Hobbs (4%) and Roswell (3%). Half commute less than 4 miles.

Albuquerque

Hobbs

Roswell

Artesia

57%Work in townlive and work in Carlsbad 4 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 15,878Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Carlsbad →

Health in Carlsbad

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 42% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with New Mexico

5better than NM·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▲ 7 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.2%Fewer adults with heart diseaseNM 7.2% · better 11.4%Fewer adults with diabetesNM 13.2% · better 39.8%More adults sleeping under 7 hoursNM 32.7% · worse

Care nearby

Carlsbad Medical CenterCarlsbad · 3 mi · ER

Pms - Carlsbad Family Hlth CtrCarlsbad · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Carlsbad · CMS · HRSAHealth in Carlsbad →

Natural hazards in Carlsbad

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 82% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding

24Does Carlsbad flood?paid flood claims since 2002 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Carlsbad MapCarlsbad vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Carlsbad →

Climate in Carlsbad

Full climate →

Carlsbad has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 97°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

61° / 31°Winter

81° / 48°Spring

97° / 67°Summer

78° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Carlsbad get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 12, with the last in spring around Mar 17.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Carlsbad →

Schools in Carlsbad

All Carlsbad schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Carlsbad’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 70% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Carlsbad’s schools compare in NM →

DistrictCARLSBADSchools15

Cottonwood ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 684 students Desert Willow ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 667 students Ocotillo ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 621 students Sunset ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 438 students Monterrey ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 366 students Early Childhood Education CenterElementary · Grades PK–K · 207 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NM. Ratings are from neighbors.