Population 2,120,246 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in New Mexico
Household size in New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in New Mexico average 2.63 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.71, mirroring the country.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in New Mexico are younger than 40.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.4, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in southern New Mexico and oldest in northern New Mexico.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in New Mexico (14.4%), above the national share of 11.6%. Of the 50 states and D.C., only two have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 New Mexico
Renters in New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in New Mexico own their homes; 30.0% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 49.2% have no mortgage at all, 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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in New Mexico than nationally: 11.9%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 |
Homes in New Mexico are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$411 | +$606 |
The median renter in New Mexico pays $1,188 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $411 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, 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 New Mexico
Bachelor's degrees in New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in New Mexico (30.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. New Mexico has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of states.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in New Mexico never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.2 points, as it has nationally. New Mexico has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of states.
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 New Mexico
| Period | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in New Mexico is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
New Mexico compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 2.63 | 40.5 | 14.4% | 30.0% | 11.9% | 1985 | $1,188 | 30.2% | 87.5% | 6.0% |
| Arizona | 2.70 | 40.4 | 12.6% | 32.6% | 9.6% | 1992 | $1,736 | 33.3% | 89.1% | 5.3% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Utah | 3.11 | 33.1 | 8.9% | 29.8% | 7.3% | 1991 | $1,701 | 38.3% | 93.5% | 3.5% |
| Oklahoma | 2.58 | 38.0 | 12.0% | 34.2% | 11.3% | 1982 | $1,127 | 28.9% | 89.3% | 5.0% |
| Texas | 2.83 | 36.7 | 12.9% | 37.4% | 9.4% | 1992 | $1,560 | 34.0% | 85.8% | 5.3% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| Nevada | 2.73 | 40.0 | 12.8% | 40.0% | 9.0% | 1995 | $1,787 | 27.5% | 87.1% | 6.9% |
| California | 3.01 | 39.0 | 12.3% | 44.1% | 7.3% | 1976 | $2,229 | 36.3% | 84.2% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Connecticut · New Hampshire · Montana · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina
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 New Mexico. 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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