City of Carlsbad, NM

City of Carlsbad, NM Main Photo

Situated along the banks of the Pecos River, Carlsbad was originally christened the Town of Eddy on September 15, 1888 and organized as a municipal corporation in 1893. With the improvement of the mineral springs with their valuable medicinal qualities north of town, the town changed the name to Carlsbad, after the famous European spa, Karlsbad. On March 25, 1918, the Governor proclaimed Carlsbad as a city.

With the discovery of the "Bat Cave" in 1901 and the establishment of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park on May 14, 1930, Carlsbad gained international recognition.

In 1925 potash was discovered near Carlsbad and for many years Carlsbad dominated the U. S. production of potash. With the decline in the potash market in the 1960s, the residents and leaders of Carlsbad lobbied for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Congress authorized the WIPP project in 1979 and construction of the project began in 1980. The DOE Carlsbad Area Office opened in 1993 and the first waste shipment arrived in 1999.

Carlsbad is located in southeastern New Mexico where US62/180 and US285 intersect. The world famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park is approximately 30 miles south. 

Demographics of Carlsbad

Population

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Population

Population2000201020252030
City of Carlsbad, NM25,87426,21334,52034,907

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Population by Age

Population2025
0-42,226
5-92,330
10-142,447
15-192,411
20-242,336
25-292,396
30-342,634
35-392,523
40-442,301
45-492,061
50-541,805
55-591,802
60-641,843
65-691,758
70-741,467
75-791,003
80-84625
85+552
18+26,077
Median Age36

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Population by Race

City of Carlsbad, NM2025
Total34,520.00
White Alone55.65%
Black Alone2.15%
American Indian Alone1.55%
Asian Alone1.41%
Pacific Islander Alone0.14%
Some Other Race20.65%
Two or More Races18.44%
Hispanic Origin52.32%
Diversity Index80.60

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Growth Rate

City of Carlsbad, NM2025 - 2030
Population0.22%
Households0.00%
Families-0.20%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income2%

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020252030
Households10,04510,26312,39012,387
Housing Units11,51711,25214,50914,505
Owner Occupied Units8,1668,185
Renter Occupied Units4,2244,202
Vacant Units2,1192,118

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Home Value

City of Carlsbad, NM20252030
Median Home Value$206,395$249,639
Average Home Value$257,308$319,252
<$50,000260180
$50,000 - $99,999693346
$100,000 - $149,9991,138822
$150,000 - $199,9991,8321,437
$200,000 - $249,9991,2511,317
$250,000 - $299,999787816
$300,000 - $399,9991,3351,529
$400,000 - $499,999380627
$500,000 - $749,999280654
$1,000,000 +85177

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later1,787
2000-2009479
1990-19991,129
1980-19892,054
1970-19791,432
1960-19692,362
1950-19592,978
1940-19491,479
1939 or Before590

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

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Income

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Income

City of Carlsbad, NM20252030
Median Household$80,237$89,590
Average Household$98,110$107,023
Per Capita$35,286$38,049

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Household Income

City of Carlsbad, NM2025
<$15,0001,314
$15,000 - $24,999800
$25,000 - $34,999764
$35,000 - $49,9991,179
$50,000 - $74,9991,654
$75,000 - $99,9991,832
$100,000 - $149,9992,409
$150,000 - $199,9991,316
$200,000+1,122

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+14,400
In-County Residents13,594
Out-of-County Residents401
Drive Alone11,642
Carpooled1,436
Public Transport69
Work at Home879
Motorcycle25
Bicycle61
Walked173
Other115
Less than 5 minutes1,090
5-9 minutes2,579
10-14 minutes2,873
15-19 minutes2,152
20-24 minutes1,442
25-29 minutes251
30-34 minutes700
35-39 minutes143
40-44 minutes352
45-59 minutes975
60-89 minutes659
90+ minutes304
Average Travel Time0

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees13,745
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt13
Mining199
Utilities339
Construction1,022
Manufacturing323
Wholesale Trade326
  
Retail Trade1,623
  
Transportation/Warehouse561
Information190
  
Finance & Insurance261
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing303
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv597
Legal Services96
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises48
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt213
Educational Services1,101
HealthCare/Social Assist2,469
Arts/Entertainment/Rec169
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs1,798
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin776
Auto Repair/Maintenance91
Public Administration Emp1,414

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

Educational Attainment (25+)

City of Carlsbad, NM2025
<9th Grade1,492
Some High School2,144
GED1,615
Graduated High School4,763
Some College/No Degree5,189
Associates Degree2,342
Bachelor's Degree3,226
Graduate Degree1,999

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses1,260
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus4
Mining Bus12
Utilities Bus5
Construction Bus81
Manufacturing Bus38
Wholesale Trade Bus46
  
Retail Trade Bus184
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus36
Information Bus25
  
Finance & Insurance Bus49
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus60
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus91
Legal Services Bus21
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus4
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus32
Educational Services Bus29
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus134
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus24
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus123
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus187
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus23
Public Administration Bus75

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18

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