White Sands Missile Range is located in near the communities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico, in Otero County and Dona Ana County, respectively. Alamogordo has a population of 30,400 and Las Cruces is the second biggest city in New Mexico with a population of 101,050. Other communities around base include Truth or Consequences (population 6,410), White Sands (1,325), Anthony (9,360), Chaparral (14,630), Tularosa (2,870), and Dona Ana (1,380). El Paso, Texas, is about 50 miles south of base and has a population of 672,540, making it the 19th largest city in the country.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average price to rent a home in the Alamogordo area ranges from $370 to $750, with a median of about $470 per month. The average price in Las Cruces is about $540.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price to purchase a home in Alamogordo is around $103,900, compared to $161,200 for New Mexico. The average price in Las Cruces is about $152,400.

Short Description of the Area: White Sands Missile Range is one of the largest military installations in the country and is located in a fairly remote part of southern New Mexico, just about 50 miles north of the border with Texas. Many towns are fairly small and spread out in a sort of ring around the range. Dona Ana County is the 2nd most populated county in New Mexico with a population of 209,230 people. Otero County has 63,800 people. The range is in the Chihuahuan Desert, flanked by the Mesilla Valley and the Rio Grande (where Las Cruces is located) to its west and the Tularosa Basin on its east side, where Alamogordo is located. The base is at about 4,000 feet above sea level.

Climate and Weather: The arid climate of the desert creates hot summers and cool, windy winters. The average high temperature in July is 94 degrees Fahrenheit, the low is 63. In January, the average high temperature is 57 degrees, while the low is about 25. This area receives about 11 inches of precipitation annually, mostly over the summer months in a type of monsoon season. Occasionally there can be snow during the winter, but it doesn't usually last long. The wind can be very strong during mid-summer and mid-winter, with the strongest gusts averaging 40-50 mph.