Population 17,425 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Belen
Household size in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.62 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.67 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.63 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.55 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.08 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Belen holds 2.74 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.60, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 37.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 38.3 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 39.6 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 41.1 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +3.9 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Belen skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 39.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 13.8% | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 14.5% | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 12.7% | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 13.1% | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Belen than nationally: 12.6%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across the Albuquerque area. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Belen
Renters in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 31.7% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.9% | 33.4% | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.2% | 33.0% | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.3% | 30.9% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Belen is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 52.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 8.8% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 9.1% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 10.1% | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 7.0% | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Belen: 18.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1982 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1983 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1984 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1986 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Belen is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $661 | $884 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $768 | $970 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $832 | $1,050 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $966 | $1,356 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$305 | +$472 | +$411 | +$606 |
Rent in Belen runs $966 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $305 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Belen
Bachelor's degrees in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 29.1% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.1% | 29.5% | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 31.6% | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 35.0% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +5.9 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Belen: 20.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.9% | 86.0% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.7% | 87.3% | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 88.4% | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.6% | 90.2% | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +4.2 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Belen never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Belen
| Period | Belen | Albuquerque area | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 9.3% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 6.0% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Belen runs well above the national rate: 8.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Belen compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belen | 2.74 | 42.0 | 12.6% | 20.3% | 18.2% | 1984 | $966 | 20.0% | 82.6% | 8.0% |
| La Constancia | 3.12 | 29.1 | 26.7% | 19.4% | 11.6% | 1995 | $1,182 | 23.1% | 87.2% | 9.1% |
| Jarales | 2.77 | 52.3 | 5.0% | 16.5% | 16.2% | 1985 | $729 | 13.1% | 86.7% | 5.4% |
| Los Chaves | 2.78 | 41.2 | 9.8% | 7.5% | 18.3% | 1991 | $833 | 22.6% | 91.7% | 0.4% |
| Casa Colorada | 2.83 | 45.7 | 11.3% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 1992 | $1,028 | 21.2% | 79.5% | 9.5% |
| El Cerro | 3.11 | 28.2 | 29.2% | 13.9% | 10.7% | 2000 | $1,371 | 28.3% | 90.6% | 7.5% |
| Tome | 2.97 | 57.4 | 16.2% | 0.0% | 16.5% | 1985 | $854 | 44.3% | 97.0% | 0.0% |
| Bosque | 3.25 | 37.3 | 8.8% | 9.0% | 20.4% | 1987 | $728 | 17.3% | 88.3% | 3.3% |
| Los Lunas | 2.92 | 40.4 | 14.4% | 16.9% | 8.5% | 1993 | $1,169 | 20.1% | 85.9% | 6.2% |
| Dalies | 2.98 | 36.0 | 12.9% | 23.5% | 7.9% | 2007 | $1,715 | 43.9% | 95.9% | 2.2% |
| Manzano | 2.15 | 56.0 | 5.7% | 15.3% | 25.9% | 1988 | $874 | 14.7% | 91.0% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
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About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Belen. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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