Carlsbad is home to 61,105 people. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. That puts it in the top 4% of US metro areas for household income. There are 15 people per square mile. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $212,600. Owners hold 73% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $78,426, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 92%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Carlsbad
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree10.9% → 19.3%(+8.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Hispanic share35.1% → 51.6%(+16.5 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$107,283 → $212,600(+98%)US over the same years: +67%
Among the 17 metro and micro areas based in New Mexico
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.3%(578)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.6%(555)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.6%(945)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.9%(118)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.5%(44)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,990 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Carlsbad, decade by decade
Carlsbad population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
48,605
$56,205
$107,283
10.9%
60.7
2000
51,658
$58,289
$110,939
13.5%
64.6
2010
53,829
$67,013
$130,478
15.1%
66.5
2020
62,314
$78,783
$195,259
17.2%
69.6
2024
61,105
$78,426
$212,600
19.3%
68.6
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
