Population 2,007 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Elephant Butte
Household size in Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.98 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.92 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.81 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.82 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Elephant Butte is a place of small households, averaging 1.82 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 1.98, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.5 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 63.3 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 67.8 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 64.4 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.1 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 64.4, Elephant Butte is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.9% | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Elephant Butte: 4.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Elephant Butte
Renters in Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +14.1 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Elephant Butte is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About three-quarters of owners (75.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.5% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 63.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 53.6% | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.4% | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −19.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Elephant Butte: 40.4% 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.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Elephant Butte is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1994, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $538 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $733 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $867 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,288 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$750 | +$411 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Elephant Butte costs $1,288 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in New Mexico overall ($1,188). Rent takes 31.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Elephant Butte
Bachelor's degrees in Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Elephant Butte have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.8%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.3% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.6% | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.7% | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Elephant Butte is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%.
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 Elephant Butte
| Period | Elephant Butte | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.6% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.8% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Elephant Butte runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% 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).
Elephant Butte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Butte | 1.82 | 64.4 | 4.5% | 21.2% | 40.4% | 1994 | $1,288 | 17.8% | 93.6% | 3.7% |
| Truth Or Consequences | 2.26 | 45.4 | 12.5% | 39.1% | 30.6% | 1978 | $771 | 17.8% | 88.9% | 3.2% |
| Cuchillo | 1.83 | 70.5 | 6.1% | 7.7% | 41.6% | 1986 | $738 | 15.0% | 93.5% | 8.2% |
| Hot Springs Landing | 1.75 | 72.5 | 3.8% | 15.4% | 52.9% | 1991 | $1,168 | 11.7% | 92.0% | 1.2% |
| Winston | 1.95 | 68.6 | 7.6% | 4.6% | 34.1% | 1984 | $728 | 21.6% | 95.9% | 12.2% |
| Bent | 2.67 | 39.2 | 10.9% | 4.6% | 24.8% | 1982 | $974 | 16.0% | 91.0% | 24.5% |
| Mescalero | 3.75 | 32.8 | 24.0% | 28.1% | 18.7% | 1983 | $350 | 9.4% | 81.2% | 11.5% |
| Ponderosa Heights | 4.24 | 36.5 | 23.9% | 30.9% | 27.1% | 1983 | $442 | 24.4% | 81.8% | 5.5% |
| Ruidoso | 2.03 | 47.1 | 12.4% | 30.4% | 52.9% | 1984 | $927 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 2.9% |
| Ruidoso Downs | 2.32 | 39.2 | 25.5% | 32.1% | 24.7% | 1983 | $876 | 18.3% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Pleasanton | 2.53 | 44.0 | 11.7% | 14.8% | 48.0% | 1980 | $740 | 31.0% | 92.8% | 9.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Atkins, VA · Wilmar, AR · Willsboro, NY · Bridgewater, CT · Rheasville, NC · Lake Isabella, MI · Renville, MN · Randall, MN · Pondville, AL · Pine Prairie, LA
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 Elephant Butte. 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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