Labor Day, 2014
Bayard’s story
124 years in pictures
Census counts: 764 in 1940, a peak of 3,036 in 1980, 2,116 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1947 on.
- 1902Bayard is settled
BayardNM
A town of 2,048, settled in 1902.
Population
2,048
2025 Census estimate · −3.2% since 2020
Typical home
$111K
−7.7% in a year
Household income
$34K
median
Median age
34.0
years
Jobs based here
424
A commuter town
Is Bayard a good place to live?
Bayard’s best subject grade is a B+ for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for incomes. Bayard's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 96% of U.S. towns. Bayard has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Bayard stand out
Where Bayard beats most towns.
A commuter town
89% of working residents leave Bayard for work
Where Bayard’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
424jobs based in Bayard
11%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Bayard grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Mexico), ordered by how far Bayard is from typical.
Jobs & income$34K median household incomeD−Open →SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.1 of 20; 3.6% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →HealthLess healthy than 79% of U.S. towns; Gila Regional Medical Center 7.9 miles awayC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →HistoryDOpen →Civic life1.1 library visits per resident; 1.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 89° summer afternoons, 13″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bayard: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bayard, and how to reach them.
PowerPNM16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBayard Municipal Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bayard’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New Mexico you can register online until 28 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereGrant County ClerkGrant County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code8802388023 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bayard.
HousingCost of living grade B+
Zillow puts the typical Bayard home at about $111K
The rent at the middle of the market for Bayard comes to $716 a month. In the year to September 2026, typical home values slipped 7.7%. 60% of households are owner-occupiers in the town, against 70% in New Mexico’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
$111KZillow home value
| Bayard | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 60% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $716 a month | $940 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Bayard$111K
New Mexico$316K
−7.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB
Public schools in Bayard beat 55% of New Mexico districts
Its public schools are run by the Cobre school district. Two of the 3 schools are below, and why each made the list. The 3 public schools in Bayard teach 614 students between them.
55%of NM districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snell MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 201 | – |
| Cobre HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 257 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduation
SafetyD
Crime per resident in Bayard is higher than in 87% of U.S. towns
Bayard’s rate of reported violence is 7.3 per 1,000 residents, where New Mexico’s towns sit at 4.2 and U.S. towns at 1.6. In Bayard, the rate of thefts and burglaries is 23.3 per 1,000 residents.
13%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Bayard | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.3 per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 23.3 per 1,000 residents | 16.3 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Bayard7.3
New Mexico6.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Bayard23.3
New Mexico23.6
U.S.15.5
13th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
15
violent crimes reported in 2025
48
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthC−
More of Bayard’s adults have diabetes than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town
In Bayard, 16% of adults report frequent mental distress. Only 6 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Bayard. Two figures for adults in the town: 33% say their health is fair or poor, 31% worry about having enough food. The town beats the New Mexico average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13.
21%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Bayard | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 26% | 19% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 16% | 8.1% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 23% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
1 better18 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Bayard | NM |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 78.5% | 73.3% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 31.1% | 20.9% |
Gila Regional Medical Center
7.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Bayard stands out in New Mexico and nationally: a larger share of its residents live below the poverty line
Bayard’s typical journey to work comes in at 17 minutes. Only 5 of the 73 New Mexico towns we compare have a lower median household income than Bayard. It had 424 jobs in 2023, down 363 from 2013. The top destinations are Silver City (27%), Las Cruces (9%) and Albuquerque (6%).
11%work in town
| Bayard | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 35% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $34,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 14% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Bayard11%
Silver City27%
Las Cruces9%
Albuquerque6%
Santa Clara5%
8 mi
median commute distance
424
jobs based in Bayard
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 15% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Bayard faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
One declared disaster, in 2006, has brought federal aid to Bayard households. On expected storm and flood damage, Bayard sits above 71% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Bayard break down as 84% from inland flooding and 9% from wildfires.
71risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfire
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than New Mexico overall
College graduates make up 26% of adults 25 and older, against 31% across New Mexico. Adults 35 to 64 are 28% of residents (37% statewide); children under 18 are 28% of residents (22% statewide). Bayard’s age of the median resident stands at 34 years. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Bayard at 2,048 residents, down 3.2% since 2020.
34median age · NM 39.4
| Bayard | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34 years | 37.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 23% | 29% |
BayardNew MexicoUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school23%
Some college32%
Associate’s5%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.9 points. Across New Mexico, 50.3% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 92% are men (NM 44%).
| Bayard | NM | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.6% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.3% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 16.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.5% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.3% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 4.4% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.9% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.8% | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.8% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 13.4% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.3% | 25.7% | 26% |
| Some college | 32% | 22.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5% | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.1% | 17.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.3% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,000, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Bayard
July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 26° and about 13 inches of snow falls in a winter.
13″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–55°
Spring38–71°
Summer58–87°
Fall41–72°
Nov 8
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bayard
18pages on Bayard
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 55% of NM districts · 3 schoolsSafetyD7.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than NM on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$111K typical home · down 7.7% in a yearWork & commuteD−$34K median household income · 424 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 71% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Bayard
About 5 of every 100 Bayard residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico.
About Bayard
City in New Mexico, United States
Bayard is a city in Grant County, New Mexico, United States. It is near Santa Rita, east of Silver City. The population was 2,116 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 5,820 ft
- ZIP code
- 88023
- Area code
- 575
Bayard’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Bayard.
North HurleyBayard
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NM rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayard | — | — | B+ | D | B | C− |
| North Hurley | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Bayard has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. North Hurley isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Bayard with a neighbor →
Questions about Bayard
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bayard, NM expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.