Pilatus P-2 HB-RBP, Santa Teresa, NM, Oct97, 1997
Santa Teresa’s story
Santa Teresa in pictures
The archive holds 30 old photos and papers going back to 1997 and 2 maps from 1955 on.
Explore the history →
Santa TeresaNM
A town of 6,041.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: B575 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
6,041
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$318K
−0.8% in a year
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
33.2
years
Jobs based here
1,733
Balanced
TownGrade
C−
#36 of 72 in NM
Is Santa Teresa a good place to live?
Santa Teresa is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C− overall, 36th among New Mexico's 72 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools rank ahead of 60% of New Mexico towns. Expect to pay for it: the typical home is worth about $318K, 5.6 years of the Las Cruces metro’s $57K median household income. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 93% of U.S. towns. On hazard risk, just 14 of New Mexico’s 161 towns do better.
What makes Santa Teresa stand out
Where Santa Teresa beats most towns.
A growing town
Santa Teresa has grown 19% from 2010 to 2020
4,258 counted in 2010 and 5,044 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Santa Teresa grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Mexico), ordered by how far Santa Teresa is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.9 of 20; 1.7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthThe Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus 7.8 miles awayC+Open →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & income$63K median household incomeB−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.
ClimateMild winters, 96° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.2–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 16 attractions →Sun Bowl Stadium and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Santa Teresa. Close and well known come first.
12 mi Stadium & arenaSun Bowl Stadium
10 mi State parkFranklin Mountains State Park
15 mi National MemorialChamizal National Memorial8K visitors a year
37 mi Ancient siteHueco Tanks
8 mi Theme parkWestern Playland
in town MuseumWar Eagles Air MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Sun Bowl Stadium: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 · Franklin Mountains State Park: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 · Chamizal National Memorial: Original uploader was Mosamiazaz at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Hueco Tanks: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · Western Playland: Dimples915, CC BY-SA 3.0 · War Eagles Air Museum: 先従隗始, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
Moving to Santa Teresa: who provides what
Santa Teresa is unincorporated, so Doña Ana County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerEl Paso Electric10.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCamino Real Regional Utility Authority25 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesDoña Ana CountyDoña Ana 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 hereDona Ana County Bureau of ElectionsDoña Ana County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP codes88008, 8802188008 99% · 88021 1%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 Santa Teresa.
Santa Teresa carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of New Mexico (mostly inland flooding), has milder winter nights than almost anywhere else in New Mexico and sends many workers across the state line.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Santa Teresa
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 90% of New Mexico towns; that rating is what its A− for hazard risk is built on.
At 20 of 100, Santa Teresa’s FEMA risk score is against 67 of 100 in New Mexico’s towns and 44 of 100 across U.S. towns.
20risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtHeat waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB
Santa Teresa earns a B for schools
Its public schools are run by the Gadsden school district. Its one school is below.
60%of NM districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 484 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NM on state tests and graduation
Climate
Santa Teresa stands out in New Mexico and nationally: a typical January night there is milder
January nights average 32.5°, the highest of 528 New Mexico places with climate records; July afternoons average 95.2°. The Santa Teresa Ap weather station records that about 107 days a year reach 90°, more than in 96% of U.S. towns.
At 33°F, Santa Teresa’s January low is above both the New Mexico town median (21°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). Santa Teresa’s July high is 95°F. Santa Teresa has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain.
2″snow a winter
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 93°F | 85°F |
| January low | 33°F | 21°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–60°
Spring50–80°
Summer69–95°
Fall51–78°
Nov 11
typical first frost
Mar 23
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than New Mexico overall
People 65 and older are 12% of residents (19% statewide); children under 18 are 27% of residents (22% statewide). 38% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Santa Teresa.
33.2median age · NM 39.4
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 18% | 18% |
| Median age | 33.2 years | 37.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 23% | 29% |
Santa TeresaNew MexicoUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school29%
Some college15%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
46% women, 54% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.1 points. Across New Mexico, 50.3% of residents are women.
| Santa Teresa | NM | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 18.4% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.8% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 10.7% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.5% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.6% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.1% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.2% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 4.9% | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.9% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.7% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.1% | 25.7% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.1% | 22.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.6% | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.9% | 17.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.7% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
More than half of Santa Teresa’s working residents commute to El Paso
69% of working residents cross a state line to work. Santa Teresa has about as many jobs (1,733) as working residents, but only 59 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Santa Teresa for work: only 4% work in town. 24% of Santa Teresa residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Santa Teresa grew to 1,733 in 2023, 786 more than in 2013.
4%work in town
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 24% | 20% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.6% | 15% | 8% |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Santa Teresa4%
El Paso55%
Anthony7%
Las Cruces7%
Sunland Park6%
13 mi
median commute distance
1,733
jobs based in Santa Teresa
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 7% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC+
Santa Teresa is less healthy than 60% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,606 U.S. towns with household incomes like Santa Teresa’s, it is healthier than 58%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Santa Teresa beats the New Mexico average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
40%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 8.1% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 69% | 79% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 23% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 36% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Santa Teresa | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6% | 7.4% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 5.4% | 6.6% |
The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus
7.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
56th
percentile among NM towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 3% of Santa Teresa
3.5 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. The trail density in Santa Teresa is 0.4 miles per square mile.
#58for trails in NM
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3% | 4% | 4.3% |
3%
conserved · 169 of 5,637 acres
3.5 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C−
Santa Teresa earns a C− for cost of living
The typical Santa Teresa home is worth about $318,000, down 0.8% in a year, close to the New Mexico typical home.
$318KZillow home value
| Santa Teresa | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,356 a month | $936 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Santa Teresa$318K
New Mexico$316K
−0.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Santa Teresa
17pages on Santa Teresa
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Santa Teresa
The University of Texas at El PasoUniversity or college · Public · El Paso, TX12.2 mi$9,744 in-state tuitionWestern Technical CollegeUniversity or college · Private for-profit · El Paso, TX14.5 mi
About 8 of every 100 Santa Teresa residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
About Santa Teresa
Census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Santa Teresa is an unincorporated community in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, United States. It is home to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry and is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area, although geographically it is considerably closer to El Paso, Texas, than to Las Cruces. While the United States Census Bureau defined Santa Teresa as a census-designated place (CDP), the census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population was 4,258 at the 2010 census and 5,044 at the 2020 census. The National Weather Service El Paso Weather Forecast Office that serves extreme western Texas and Southwestern New Mexico sta…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 10 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,793 ft
- ZIP code
- 88008
Santa Teresa’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Santa Teresa.
Sunland ParkSanta Teresa
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NM rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | #36 | C− | C− | — | B | C+ |
| Sunland Park | #32 | C− | C | B− | B | D |
Santa Teresa reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Santa Teresa with a neighbor →
Questions about Santa Teresa
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Santa Teresa, NM a good place to live?
Santa Teresa grades C− overall, better than 19% of U.S. towns and #36 of 72 in New Mexico. It grades C+ for health and B for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Santa Teresa, NM expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.