Population 3,743 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Catron County
Household size in Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.05 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.03 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Catron County is a place of small households, averaging 2.03 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Of New Mexico's 33 counties, only two have smaller households.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 57.9 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 57.7 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 57.0 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 62.6 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Catron County skews older: half of its residents are older than 62.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 57.9 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. No other New Mexico county is older.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Catron County (12.4%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in New Mexico as a whole (14.4%).
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 Catron County
Renters in Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Catron County is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 6.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 74.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Catron County has the lowest share of renters of any New Mexico county.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.2% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.1% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 65.2% | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.2% | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Catron County: 47.2% 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. No other New Mexico county has a higher vacancy rate.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Catron County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of New Mexico. Catron County has newer homes than the great majority of New Mexico counties.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $533 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $720 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $793 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $728 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$195 | +$411 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Catron County costs $728 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 36.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Catron County has lower rents than at least four in five New Mexico counties.
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 Catron County
Bachelor's degrees in Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.5% | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.0% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.2 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Catron County (36.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in New Mexico as a whole (30.2%). Catron County has a higher share of college graduates than at least four in five New Mexico counties.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.4% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.2% | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.8 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Catron County: 98.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only one other New Mexico county has a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Catron County
| Period | Catron County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Catron County has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Catron County has lower unemployment than the great majority of New Mexico counties. 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).
Catron County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catron County | 2.03 | 62.6 | 12.4% | 6.2% | 47.2% | 1986 | $728 | 36.0% | 98.2% | 3.0% |
| Gila County | 2.38 | 50.2 | 11.2% | 22.5% | 21.3% | 1983 | $1,086 | 18.5% | 90.2% | 6.6% |
| La Paz County | 1.94 | 53.7 | 15.1% | 27.9% | 25.6% | 1984 | $868 | 14.7% | 85.4% | 9.4% |
| Lamb County | 2.76 | 37.4 | 16.0% | 26.0% | 17.4% | 1967 | $991 | 14.9% | 78.5% | 1.9% |
| Floyd County | 2.68 | 39.0 | 14.6% | 26.7% | 24.0% | 1963 | $742 | 16.2% | 76.6% | 5.2% |
| Motley County | 2.56 | 50.6 | 8.9% | 23.5% | 37.7% | 1961 | $720 | 19.5% | 85.8% | 0.8% |
| Cottle County | 2.43 | 46.8 | 22.6% | 16.8% | 37.9% | 1960 | $217 | 23.2% | 83.1% | 13.4% |
| Foard County | 2.17 | 49.1 | 2.5% | 24.0% | 29.9% | 1958 | $572 | 20.6% | 82.3% | 6.3% |
| Los Angeles County | 3.00 | 39.2 | 13.0% | 54.1% | 6.8% | 1965 | $2,158 | 35.2% | 80.4% | 7.2% |
| Wichita County | 2.47 | 37.7 | 13.3% | 38.6% | 11.2% | 1972 | $1,105 | 25.8% | 88.6% | 4.1% |
| Clay County | 2.46 | 46.5 | 9.0% | 16.0% | 16.9% | 1980 | $813 | 22.0% | 94.1% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Covington City, VA · Crook County, WY · Crockett County, TX · Sedgwick County, CO · Crenshaw County, AL · Shannon County, MO · Sharkey County, MS · Crane County, TX · Craig County, VA · Crosby County, TX
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 Catron County. 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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