Technicians Rig Rocket Launcher to a JB-2 Buzz Bomb, 1948
Holloman AFB’s story
Holloman AFB in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1944 and 3 maps from 1948 on.
Explore the history →
Holloman AFBNM
A town of 4,433.
Photo: United States Air Force · Public domain
Population
4,433
Census survey, 2020–24
Household income
$52K
median
Median age
21.7
years
Jobs based here
1,003
A job hub
TownGrade
C−
#31 of 72 in NM
Is Holloman AFB a good place to live?
The typical home is worth about , years of the Alamogordo area’s $56K median household income. Overall it grades C−, 31st among New Mexico's 72 graded towns. Its weakest subject is incomes: the median household income is $52K, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Holloman AFB’s average trip to work is 8 minutes, where New Mexico’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. On cost of living, just 1 of New Mexico’s 156 towns do worse.
What makes Holloman AFB stand out
Where Holloman AFB beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,003
Residents who work529
Work
1.9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
32 measures vs. New Mexico
12 better10 too close to call10 worse
| Widest gap | Holloman AFB | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 1.5% | 7.4% |
HealthB+
Healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A growing town
Holloman AFB has grown 25% from 2010 to 2020
3,054 counted in 2010 and 3,810 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Holloman AFB grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Mexico), ordered by how far Holloman AFB is from typical.
Cost of livingHome prices against what area households earnD−Open →Jobs & incomeDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →HealthChristus Southern New Mexico 11 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.3 of 20; 0.5% of households have no car; 16.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Holloman AFB: who provides what
Holloman AFB is unincorporated, so Otero County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerEl Paso Electric10.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHolloman Air Force Base water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesOtero CountyOtero County provides services here
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 hereOtero County ClerkOtero County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Mar 2020
ZIP code8833088330 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 Holloman AFB.
Holloman AFB has less cancer than most of New Mexico, draws workers from Alamogordo and beyond and has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns.
Who lives here
Compared with most of New Mexico and the rest of the country, the median age in Holloman AFB is lower
Only 0% of households own their home, against 70% across New Mexico.
Adults 18 to 34 are 60% of residents (23% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 9% of residents (37% statewide). 30% of Holloman AFB residents are under 18.
21.7median age · NM 39.4
| Holloman AFB | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.7 years | 37.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 30% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 23% | 29% |
Holloman AFBNew MexicoUnited States
Ages · share of residents
37%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma0%
High school15%
Some college30%
Associate’s20%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
36% women, 64% men
About 180 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.8 points). Across New Mexico, 50.3% of residents are women. Among residents 18 to 24, 79% are men (NM 52%). Median age: women 22.8, men 21.4.
| Holloman AFB | NM | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 23.6% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 36.6% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 23.8% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.3% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 1.1% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 0.2% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 1% | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 0% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 15.4% | 25.7% | 26% |
| Some college | 30.4% | 22.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 19.7% | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.3% | 17.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.2% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,400, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Holloman AFB beat 68% of New Mexico districts
One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. Its public schools are run by the Alamogordo school district. 2 public schools serve Holloman AFB, with 690 students in all.
68%of NM districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holloman ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 517 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
For most of its workers, the job is outside Holloman AFB
1,003 jobs are based in Holloman AFB, 1.9 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 8.1 minutes, against 23.5 across New Mexico.
The top destinations are Alamogordo (20%), Albuquerque (15%) and El Paso (10%). Only 4% of working residents stay in Holloman AFB for work; the rest commute out. Employers in Holloman AFB added 99 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,003. The median commute is under 72 miles.
4%work in town
| Holloman AFB | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.6% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Holloman AFB4%
Alamogordo20%
Albuquerque15%
El Paso10%
Las Cruces9%
72 mi
median commute distance
1,003
jobs based in Holloman AFB
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 65% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
Fewer of Holloman AFB’s adults have diabetes than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town
Its widest gap with New Mexico is cancer: 1.5% of its 2,954 adults have had cancer, against 7.4% statewide. Against the 6,625 U.S. towns with household incomes like Holloman AFB’s, it is healthier than 98%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Among 73 New Mexico towns, just one has a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Holloman AFB. For adults locally, the share who have high blood pressure is 16%. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Holloman AFB is ahead of New Mexico on 12 and behind on 10. In Holloman AFB, nearly a quarter of adults report frequent mental distress, and 21% binge drink.
75%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Holloman AFB | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 3.2% | 14% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 13% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
12 better10 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Holloman AFB | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 1.5% | 7.4% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 3.2% | 13.2% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 17.5% | 11% |
Christus Southern New Mexico
11 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
86th
percentile among NM towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Expect mild winters and hot summers in Holloman AFB
The White Sands Natl Mon weather station, 6 miles away, records that about 119 days a year reach 90°, more than in 98% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 94.7°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 27.6°.
For Holloman AFB, the typical July afternoon high is 95°F. About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
2″snow a winter
| Holloman AFB | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 93°F | 85°F |
| January low | 28°F | 21°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–58°
Spring46–78°
Summer66–94°
Fall47–77°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 22
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Holloman AFB has a high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
FEMA puts four fifths of Holloman AFB’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 6% to lightning. On expected storm and flood damage, Holloman AFB sits above nearly two thirds of U.S. communities.
66risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingLightning
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC−
0% of Holloman AFB is conserved land
Walkers can cover 5.2 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. In Holloman AFB, the concentration of trails is 0.4 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves here: one, of 2 acres.
#56for trails in NM
0%
conserved · 0 of 8,102 acres
5.2 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Heritage Park | 0.4 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 8 attractions →White Sands National Park and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Holloman AFB. Close and well known come first.
3 mi National ParkWhite Sands National Park660K visitors a year
11 mi MuseumNew Mexico Museum of Space History5.0M visitors a year
39 mi National forestLincoln National Forest
9 mi Zoo & aquariumAlameda Park Zoo24 mi Ski areaSki Cloudcroft26 runs · 634 ft vertical
9 mi MuseumThe Toy Train DepotSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White Sands National Park: uncredited NPS employee, Public domain · New Mexico Museum of Space History: AllenS, Public domain · Lincoln National Forest: Dsw3131, Public domain · Alameda Park Zoo: AllenS, Public domain · The Toy Train Depot: Original uploader was Madmaxmarchhare at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Holloman AFB
16pages on Holloman AFB
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Holloman AFB
About 9 of every 100 Holloman AFB residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
A job hub
Every workday, about 984 people come to Holloman AFB for work
Where Holloman AFB’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,003jobs based in Holloman AFB
4%of working residents work in town
72 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Holloman AFB
US Air Force base near Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States
Holloman Air Force Base (IATA: HMN, ICAO: KHMN, FAA LID: HMN) is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, which is the county seat of Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research. It is the home of the 49th Wing (49 WG) of the Air Combat Command (ACC). In addition to hosting several combat wings, Holloman supports the nearby White Sands Missile Range and currently hosts the Royal Air Force RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) Formal Training Unit (FTU) and the Italian Air Force RPA training courses. The base…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 13 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,093 ft
Questions about Holloman AFB
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Holloman AFB, NM a good place to live?
Holloman AFB grades C− overall, better than 21% of U.S. towns and #31 of 72 in New Mexico. It grades B+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.