1997 · Lea County-Jal Airport - USGS 01 Nov 1997 · Wikimedia Commons
Jal’s story
Jal in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
JalNM
A town of 2,364. A typical home worth about $151K.
Population
2,364
+7.6% since 2010
Typical home
$151K
−6.4% in a year
Median age
39.6
years
Jobs based here
958
Balanced
What makes Jal stand out
The 2 things Jal does most differently from other towns.
Jal’s report card
Now in Jal
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Jal? Is a C for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Jal’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →90°
Clear
H 94° · L 71°
Local news
All →- Court documents reveal what investigators found after Odessa man killed in Jal, New Mexiconewswest9.com · Sep 30
- Federal prosecutors ask judge to dismiss civil rights case against two Jal officersKRQE · Aug 7
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Jal. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Jal home is worth about $151K
The typical Jal home is worth about $151,000, down 6.4% in a year, 53% below the New Mexico typical home.
$151KZillow home value
Typical home value
Jal$151K
New Mexico$318K
−6.4%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Jal beats the New Mexico average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
CHealth Grade
32 measures vs. New Mexico
1 better25 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Jal | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.6% | 7.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20% | 14.2% |
Winkler County Memorial Hospital
19.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
40th
percentile among NM towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Jal has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 97°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–62°
Spring49–81°
Summer68–96°
Fall49–79°
Nov 3
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in two working residents works right in Jal
44% of Jal’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Hobbs (7%), Carlsbad (6%) and Albuquerque (5%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
44%work in town
Where working residents work
In Jal44%
Hobbs7%
Carlsbad6%
Albuquerque5%
Loving1%
18 mi
median commute distance
958
jobs based in Jal
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Crime reported in Jal
Jal's reported crime rate is well below New Mexico's. Most reported incidents are property crimes. No violent crimes were reported in 2024.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Jal0
New Mexico7.4
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Jal1.4
New Mexico28.9
U.S.17.7
0
violent crimes reported in 2024
3
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Schools
The schools Jal’s kids attend
JAL · 3 schools
| School | Grades | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jal Elementary | PK–5 | 290 | |
| Jal Jr. High | 6–8 | 119 | |
| Jal High | 9–12 | 158 |
NCES · EDFactsAll 3 schools →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 45% of U.S. communities.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireHail
4
paid flood claims since 1990
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
2.9% of Jal is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves.
2.9%conserved
2.9%
conserved · 90 of 3,075 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jal Lake Park | — | 47 |
| 2. Jal Schools Baseball Field. | — | 11 |
| 3. Jal Schools Softball and Little League Fields | — | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
About Jal
City in New Mexico, United States
Jal () is a small city located in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. It is New Mexico's south-easternmost city, and shares a border with Texas to the east and south. The population was estimated to be 2,069 in 2023. Jal is historically important in the natural gas industry, from the early 1900s to the present day.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,202
- Area
- 4.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,071 ft
- ZIP code
- 88252
- Area code
- 505
More about Jal
Still missing for Jal:a photo of Jalupcoming events