Carlsbad, New Mexico

What It Is Like to Retire in Carlsbad

Carlsbad is located in Southeastern New Mexico, straddling the Pecos River on the edge of the Guadalupe Mountains. The town, which is the county seat of Eddy County, has a population of 26,138 (2013 census), and was named after the European spa Karlsbad, because of mineral springs located north of the city that were believed to have medicinal value. It is a popular tourist destination as the Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located here, and the Living Desert Zoo and Garden State Park, with several other national parks and forests nearby.  Carlsbad has been known as a top producer of potash since 1925, when deposits were found here, and the mining of it still takes place today.  New Mexico State University has a branch campus here with an  enrollment of approximately 2,000 students, making Carlsbad a college town.  Pictures of Eddy County Courthouse and Carlsbad Public Library courtesy of Wikipedia and AllenS (public domain).

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Where to Retire in Carlsbad and Home Prices

The median home value index in Carlsbad is $253,438 in mid-2021, according to Zillow. There are retirement communities in Carlsbad, see link at left.

What Is Special about Carlsbad

Carlsbad offers an array of outdoor recreaction including golf, tennis, several parks, and is close to Lincoln National Forest and Guadlupe National Park. The sun shines almost everyday; low cost of living.

What Is Not Special about Carlsbad

Carlsbad is far from any metropolitan areas with El Paso, Texas, the nearest large city about 140 miles away, Albuquerque is 230 miles away; the crime rate is above the national average; summers are hot with the average high in the mid 90's.

Who Will Like Retirement in Carlsbad

Those who would like to be in a small to mid-sized college town, with plenty of sunshine and a lot of outdoor activities would enjoy living here.  The town has two senior centers, volunteer opportunities, and its own hospital.  New Mexico State University offers community education courses which retirees can attend and become involved in different programs.

Local Economy Is Driven by

The economy is based on oil and gas extractions, potash mining, and tourism.

Climate and Physical Environment

Carlsbad boasts 350 days of sunshine each year, with January's average temperature at 43 degrees, and July's average 82 degrees.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

The town is known for its Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Living Zoo and Garden State Park, but it also boasts over 1,400 acres of parks within the city limits. The Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area along the Pecos River offers a beach, a tennis complex, and a six mile sidewalk around the area; The Sports Complex is made up of  several athletic fields for softball, baseball, and football, each with concession facilities; The Walter Gerrells Performing Arts and Exhibition Center hosts a variety of events including concerts, musical productions and art fairs; Carlsbad Museum and Art Center features displays focusing on local and regional history, along with modern, contemporary, and Southwestern art. The communitiy also hosts festivals and events throughout the year including a popular 4th of July celebration and Christmas on the Pecos.

Crime

The crime rate in Carlsbad is above the national average and mainly involves theft and larceny.

Medical facilities

Carlsbad Medical Center sevices the town and surrounding area.

Transportation

The town does have a municipal transit system; Cavern City Air Terminal is a municipal airport run by the city for private pilots and charters and offers flights to Albuquerque and Dallas/Fort Worth; the nearest international airport is in El Paso,Texas, about 150 miles away.

Valuable Links

City of Carlsbad Carlsbad Caverns National Park