Mesilla’s story
178 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1848Mesilla is settled
MesillaNM
A town of 1,717, settled in 1848. A regional job hub with 835 jobs.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Original uploader was Camerafiend at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,717
−18.2% since 2010
Median home value
$301K
Census ACS
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
56.1
years
Jobs based here
835
A job hub
What makes Mesilla stand out
The 3 things Mesilla does most differently from other towns.
A shrinking town
Mesilla has shrunk 18.2% since 2010
2,196 people in 2010; 1,717 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Mesilla’s report card
Now in Mesilla
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Mesilla? Is an A for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Mesilla’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mesilla. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Mesilla
Most working residents leave Mesilla for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Las Cruces (52%), University Park (10%) and El Paso (6%). Half commute less than 4 miles.
4%work in town
Where working residents work
In Mesilla4%
Las Cruces52%
University Park10%
El Paso6%
Albuquerque5%
4 mi
median commute distance
835
jobs based in Mesilla
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Mesilla’s public schools outperform 87% of New Mexico districts
The public schools Mesilla’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 87% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesilla Elementary | PK–5 | 324 | Not graded |
| Las Cruces Academy Private | PK–8 | 43 | |
| Zia Middle | 6–8 | 616 | Not graded |
| Rio Grande Preparatory Institute | 9–12 | 46 | D− |
| Mission Academy Private | K–12 | 79 |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduationAll 5 schools →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Mesilla has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–60°
Spring46–80°
Summer66–96°
Fall48–79°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 12
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 64% of U.S. communities.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtEarthquakes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Safety
Crime reported in Mesilla
Mesilla's reported crime rate is well below New Mexico's. Most reported incidents are property crimes. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2022.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Mesilla1.1
New Mexico8.3
U.S.4
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Mesilla14
New Mexico31.8
U.S.20
2
violent crimes reported in 2022
25
property crimes reported in 2022
FBI crime data, 2022 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
4.7% of Mesilla is conserved land
11 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
4.7%conserved
4.7%
conserved · 172 of 3,621 acres
11 mi
of trails · 2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. La Llorona Park | 0.3 mi | 73 |
| 2. Town Hall Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health
Healthier than 46% of U.S. towns
Mesilla beats the New Mexico average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. New Mexico
11 better14 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Mesilla | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8.4% | 11.2% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.9% | 14.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.4% | 7.4% |
Memorial Medical Center
4.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
61st
percentile among NM towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
Homes in Mesilla sell for about $542K
The median sale price was $542,000 in April 2026.
$542Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A job hub
Every workday, about 816 people come to Mesilla for work
Where Mesilla’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
835jobs based in Mesilla
4%of working residents work in town
4 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Mesilla
Town in New Mexico, United States
Mesilla (also known as La Mesilla and Old Mesilla) is a town in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,797 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area. During the Civil War, Mesilla briefly served as capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona. The Mesilla Plaza is a National Historic Landmark.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1848
- Population
- 1,797
- Area
- 5.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,881 ft
- ZIP code
- 88046
- Area code
- 575
Mesilla’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Mesilla.
Las CrucesMesilla