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Moving to Dexter, New Mexico

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Dexter, New Mexico is situated in the Chihuahuan Desert and experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The city was established in 1882 when the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway came through. It was named after Dexter Burchard, one of the first settlers in the area. Politically, Dexter is part of Chaves County and its current mayor is David Patterson. The economy of Dexter is largely based on agriculture and oil production. There are several schools in town including Dexter Elementary School, Dexter Middle School, and Dexter High School. Some of the notable landmarks in the area include Capitan Gap Park, Lincoln National Forest, Bottomless Lakes State Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. These attractions are popular among tourists visiting from other cities as well as locals looking for a way to spend their free time outdoors.

Population: 1,235. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,230 (-0.4% change)
Males: 601 (48.7%), Females: 634 (51.3%)

Chaves County

Zip code: 88230

Demographics

Median resident age: 30.0 years
Median household income: $30,707
Median house value: $42,600

Population by Race

Races in Dexter:

  • Hispanic (71.2%)
  • Other race (35.5%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (27.4%)
  • Two or more races (3.6%)
  • American Indian (1.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (4.3%), English (3.6%), Irish (3.2%), United States (2.5%), Portuguese (1.9%), French (1.7%).

Elevation: 3462 feet

Land area: 0.7 square miles

Population by Education

Dexter, New Mexico is a small town located in the Chaves County. It has a population of just over 1,000 people as of the 2010 census. The majority of the population are Hispanic or Latino, making up almost 80% of the population. The remaining 20% are mostly white, with some African American and Native American individuals also living in Dexter. The median age for Dexter is 33 years old, with approximately 25% of the population being under 18 years old and 10% being 65 or older. The town has an unemployment rate of around 5%, which is lower than both the state and national averages. The average household size for Dexter is 2.6 people per household, which is slightly lower than the state average of 2.7 people per household.

The majority of Dexter’s residents work in blue-collar occupations such as construction, manufacturing, and hospitality services. These industries employ many individuals who have moved to Dexter from other parts of Mexico and Central America looking for better job opportunities in the United States. Many residents also work in agricultural fields such as farming and ranching due to its close proximity to agricultural centers like Roswell and Clovis.

The town also has a vibrant downtown area that offers many retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and bars for locals to enjoy on their days off or after work hours. There are several parks located within walking distance from downtown that offer recreational activities such as basketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds and more for children to enjoy during their free time or on weekends with their families. In addition there are several churches that serve as spiritual homes for members of various faiths living in Dexter which help create a sense of community among its citizens.

For population 25 years and over in Dexter

  • High school or higher: 52.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.9%
  • Unemployed: 6.1%
  • Mean travel time to work: 20.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Dexter town

  • Never married: 24.5%
  • Now married: 63.0%
  • Separated: 0.7%
  • Widowed: 5.8%
  • Divorced: 6.0%

17.3% Foreign born (17.3% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +332 (+36.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Dexter:

  • EASTERN NEW MEXICO MEDICAL CENTER (about 24 miles; ROSWELL, NM)
  • NEW MEXICO REHABILITATION CENTER (about 24 miles; ROSWELL, NM)
  • ARTESIA GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 28 miles; ARTESIA, NM)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Dexter:

  • ROSWELL INDUSTRIAL AIR CENTER (about 13 miles; ROSWELL, NM; Abbreviation: ROW)
  • CAVERN CITY AIR TRML (about 60 miles; CARLSBAD, NM; Abbreviation: CNM)
  • SIERRA BLANCA REGIONAL (about 83 miles; RUIDOSO, NM; Abbreviation: SRR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Dexter:

  • ARTESIA MUNI (about 25 miles; ARTESIA, NM; Abbreviation: ATS)
  • LEA COUNTY-ZIP FRANKLIN MEMORIAL (about 70 miles; LOVINGTON, NM; Abbreviation: E06)
  • TATUM (about 77 miles; TATUM, NM; Abbreviation: E07)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Dexter:

  • EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 98 miles; PORTALES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,955)
  • SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE (about 139 miles; LEVELLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,851)
  • ODESSA COLLEGE (about 162 miles; ODESSA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,555)
  • EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 171 miles; EL PASO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 11,127)
  • NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY (about 172 miles; LAS VEGAS, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,278)
  • NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 177 miles; LAS CRUCES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 12,562)
  • NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY-DONA ANA (about 177 miles; LAS CRUCES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,380)

Schools

Public high school in Dexter:

  • DEXTER HIGH (Students: 350; Location: 200 N. LINCOLN; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Dexter:

  • DEXTER ELEM (Students: 469; Location: 400 WEST 1ST; Grades: PK – 05)
  • DEXTER MIDDLE (Students: 295; Location: 200 N. LINCOLN; Grades: 05 – 08)

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