Tucumcari is a quiet, long-standing desert community
Driving the long miles of Interstate 40 through the New Mexico desert, travelers have found respite in Tucumcari for over a century. Lit with neon motel signs at night and hosting visitors in one of its many historical museums during the day, the community is very much a road-trip stop. But for many, it's been home for generations. "It's a very small area; it kind of pops up out of nowhere. It started as a railroad town and was a major Route 66 area. They've done a good job preserving their history," says Erica Essex, a Realtor with Town and Country Real Estate who started her career in 2022. "A lot of folks and their families have been living there forever, but every so often, you get new people in who want the land and quiet."
Affordable land and homes in Tucumcari's rural setting
Tucumcari's rural desert location lends itself to more space between neighbors, with houses sitting on rocky terrain with views of an uninterrupted horizon. Most homes in the area were built between 1950 and 1990, with ranch styles, bungalows and Pueblo Revivals being the most common architecture. Depending on renovation status and acreage, these usually sell for $150,000 to $250,000. More contemporary options will occasionally be available on the market, typically custom-built. These come with higher prices, selling for $350,000 to $500,000. "You can get a lot of land for cheap and build, or find a property with existing acreage and flip it," Essex says. "It really comes down to how much land you can get out here and being able to do what you want with it."
Heading to the pool or lake during hot New Mexico days
Several green spaces are scattered throughout the community, from the Tucumcari City Pool at Damon Kvols Park to the huge disc golf course and shooting range at Tucumcari Metropolitan Park. Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course, which was designed by Dr. T.B. Hoover and opened in 1948, is available to the public. Farther afield, about 18 miles away, Ute Lake State Park is a popular place for Tucumcari residents to head when they want a lake day. Boats skate across the surface of Ute Lake while people lounge on the shores or explore one of the many hiking trails around the park.
A community of locally owned and operated businesses
Tucumcari has yet to draw in big retail or national sit-down chain restaurants. It has some fast-casual food stops near the highway and a few recognizable names, such as Family Dollar and Tractor Supply. The closest area with a mall or big-box stores such as Walmart is Clovis, roughly 80 miles south of Tucumcari, just over an hour's drive. Most of the businesses in the area, from grocers to restaurants, are locally owned and operated. Watson's BBQ, which shares its space with Tucumcari Ranch Supply, has been serving slow-smoked plates of brisket to the community for years.
Tucumcari Public Schools and opportunities at Mesalands Community College
Tucumcari Public Schools provides local education, and children may start at Tucumcari Elementary School, which gets a C-plus on Niche. Students can move on to Tucumcari Middle School, which receives a B-plus, before heading to B-rated Tucumcari High School. Using the Next Step Plan, Tucumcari High focuses on helping students set educational goals after graduation through career exploration and yearly review of academic strengths and interests. Many students in the area attend two years at Mesalands Community College, found off 10th Street, to complete dual enrollment, obtain prerequisite credits or go through workforce programs.
Major roadways around Tucumcari and getting to the airport
Tucumcari has several thoroughfares, including Interstate 40, Route 54 and Highway 104, which runs over 100 miles to Las Vegas and is known as one of New Mexico's most scenic routes. Since the community has no public transportation, residents are car dependent. Tucumcari Municipal Airport does not service commercial flights, so many will drive the 120 miles to the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport for flights on a selection of several airlines.
