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Living in
Sunland Park.
About
Life in Sunland Park
Living here means embracing a unique border town lifestyle where your biggest economic advantage is also the defining feature of daily life. Sunland Park sits directly on the Rio Grande between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, making it genuinely one of the most strategically positioned small cities in the Southwest—but that's less about tourism and more about opportunity. The local economy has historically relied on the Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, though in recent years a booming marijuana retail sector has exploded here, driven largely by Texans crossing into New Mexico where recreational sales are legal.
Sunland Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
+9.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sunland Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sunland Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (96.1%), and 79.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.6%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
46.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.2%
of households
Married Couples
43.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below NM average
Rent, home values, and income in Sunland Park
In Sunland Park, rent runs 14% below the NM average, and home values are 13% below the NM average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,695
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $222,749 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above NM average
Unemployment in Sunland Park
Unemployment in Doña Ana County, which includes Sunland Park, is 0.7 percentage points higher than the NM average.
Unemployment rate
Sunland Park: Doña Ana County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Doña Ana County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sunland Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.9 min avg
How Sunland Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sunland Park, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
El Paso International Airport (ELP)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sunland Park runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
280.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
603.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sunland Park Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Doña Ana County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Doña Ana County, which includes Sunland Park, the most common type is drought, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Drought | $250,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 21 | Drought | $550,000 |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | $1.3M |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2019 | 10 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | High Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Doña Ana County, county-wide
Air Quality70 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in El Paso County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 21 miles from Sunland Park) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
70
Good Days
66
per year
Moderate Days
236
per year
Unhealthy Days
30
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: El Paso County, TX (21 mi away)
Climate95°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sunland Park has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
9.5"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"
Hot Days/Year
107
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
65
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
45
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 30°F | 0.51" |
| Feb | 63°F | 33°F | 0.53" |
| Mar | 71°F | 39°F | 0.26" |
| Apr | 79°F | 47°F | 0.20" |
| May | 87°F | 56°F | 0.39" |
| Jun | 96°F | 65°F | 0.82" |
| Jul | 95°F | 69°F | 2.31" |
| Aug | 93°F | 68°F | 1.73" |
| Sep | 88°F | 62°F | 1.49" |
| Oct | 79°F | 50°F | 0.75" |
| Nov | 66°F | 37°F | 0.47" |
| Dec | 57°F | 30°F | 0.65" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sunland Park
Sunland Park has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.0%
of residents
Peak Behavioral Health Services, Llc
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Rio Vista Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 3.9 mi away · El Paso
The Hospitals of Providence - Memorial Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · El Paso
Las Palmas Medical Center A Campus of Lpds Healthc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · El Paso
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sunland Park
Sunland Park's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sunland Park (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 24,214 students · in-state tuition $3,274 · 25% graduate · median earnings $39,679 (10 yrs after entry)
The University of Texas at El Paso
6.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 21,005 students · in-state tuition $9,772 · 53% graduate · median earnings $54,599 (10 yrs after entry)
Southwest University at El Paso
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 2,073 students · in-state tuition $16,000 · 69% graduate · median earnings $37,010 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 600 students · 72% graduate · median earnings $41,422 (10 yrs after entry)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
10.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 242 students · in-state tuition $14,978 · 92% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chamizal National Memorial, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sunland Park
Sunland Park has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chamizal National Memorial (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chamizal National Memorial
National Memorial
9 mi awayButterfield Overland National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
33 mi awayWhite Sands National Park
National Park
68 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sunland Park
Sunland Park Community Library
984 Mcnutt Rd, Sunland Park
Cities Near Sunland Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sunland Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sunland Park FAQ
Is Sunland Park, New Mexico affordable?⌄
Sunland Park's median rent is $920/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,814/year. Median home value is $215,200.
Is Sunland Park, New Mexico safe?⌄
Sunland Park's violent crime rate was 280 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 604 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sunland Park, New Mexico?⌄
Doña Ana County, which includes Sunland Park, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sunland Park, New Mexico?⌄
The cost of living in Sunland Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $920/month and median household income is $62,814/year. The median home value is $215,200. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sunland Park, New Mexico?⌄
The average commute in Sunland Park is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from