Population 13,679 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Los Alamos
Household size in Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Los Alamos is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 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 edged down from 2.29, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the south.
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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.9 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Los Alamos are younger than 39.1 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 43.0, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.4% of households in Los Alamos, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Los Alamos has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five New Mexico cities.
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 Los Alamos
Renters in Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.7% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Los Alamos is about as common as it is nationally: 32.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among owners, 33.1% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Los Alamos: just 3.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 6.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other New Mexico city with 5,000+ people has a lower 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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Los Alamos leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing. Los Alamos has older homes than the great majority of New Mexico cities.
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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $926 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $931 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,122 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,470 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$544 | +$411 | +$606 |
The median renter in Los Alamos pays $1,470 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in New Mexico overall ($1,188). Rent has climbed $544 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Los Alamos
Bachelor's degrees in Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 65.9% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.7% | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 67.6% | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 69.6% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Los Alamos is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (69.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.7 points, in line with the national trend. Only one other New Mexico city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of college graduates.
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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 99.5% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.6% | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Los Alamos: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Of the 52 New Mexico cities with 5,000+ people, only three have 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 Los Alamos
| Period | Los Alamos | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Los Alamos has been low: just 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other New Mexico city with 5,000+ people has lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.1 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Los Alamos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos | 2.26 | 39.1 | 8.4% | 32.7% | 3.8% | 1973 | $1,470 | 69.6% | 97.7% | 0.9% |
| Totavi | 2.07 | 37.3 | 4.5% | 27.1% | 8.9% | 1985 | $1,661 | 66.7% | 98.3% | 0.6% |
| Lumberton | 2.81 | 44.6 | 5.1% | 2.4% | 15.9% | 1973 | $1,375 | 70.6% | 99.6% | 0.2% |
| San Ildefonso Pueblo | 3.06 | 33.0 | 22.1% | 19.7% | 9.6% | 1986 | $632 | 16.1% | 93.1% | 8.2% |
| La Mesilla | 2.88 | 36.7 | 19.5% | 20.0% | 10.3% | 1986 | $726 | 19.9% | 93.1% | 7.1% |
| Santa Clara Pueblo | 2.94 | 37.3 | 21.1% | 20.4% | 25.3% | 1983 | $698 | 19.6% | 89.7% | 7.4% |
| Espanola | 2.48 | 39.4 | 14.6% | 27.4% | 14.5% | 1980 | $935 | 21.1% | 85.0% | 5.3% |
| Santa Cruz | 2.85 | 35.3 | 6.8% | 28.9% | 21.4% | 1983 | $1,077 | 16.1% | 86.0% | 13.3% |
| Pojoaque | 2.31 | 45.3 | 15.6% | 26.5% | 8.2% | 1988 | $996 | 34.1% | 91.4% | 6.0% |
| La Puebla | 2.77 | 37.2 | 2.0% | 11.5% | 24.1% | 1982 | $1,117 | 15.7% | 87.7% | 17.3% |
| Seven Springs | 2.20 | 50.7 | 5.8% | 15.2% | 39.0% | 1988 | $1,041 | 61.2% | 96.9% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Granville, OH · Grove, OK · Grove City, PA · Greenwood, AR · Greencastle, IN · Greenbrier, AR · Greece, NY · Great Lakes, IL · Gray, GA · Guymon, OK
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 Los Alamos. 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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