Population 26,850 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in San Miguel County
Household size in San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.71 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.71 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
San Miguel County is a place of small households, averaging 2.27 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Compared with other New Mexico counties, San Miguel County has smaller households than most.
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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.3 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.7, San Miguel County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 41.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 14.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 13.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in San Miguel County than nationally: 14.3%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of New Mexico. The single-parent share is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 San Miguel County
Renters in San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.2% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 31.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 32.3% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in San Miguel County rent their homes (26.9%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 69.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 6.2 points, 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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.0% | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 11.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.4% of the housing in San Miguel County, 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 is up 0.6 points from 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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1981 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1982 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in San Miguel County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in New Mexico overall, where the median home dates to 1985. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center 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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $615 | $777 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $723 | $866 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $713 | $943 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $825 | $1,188 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$210 | +$411 | +$606 |
A typical rental in San Miguel County costs $825 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $210 a month since 2006–10, up 34%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 37.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the north.
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 San Miguel County
Bachelor's degrees in San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 25.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 25.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 26.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.2% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in San Miguel County (27.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southwest.
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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.4% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.6% | 83.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.2% | 85.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.6% | 87.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +5.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in San Miguel County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of New Mexico. The share with a diploma is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 San Miguel County
| Period | San Miguel County | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 7.3% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in San Miguel County is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in New Mexico overall (6.0%). Unemployment has fallen 3.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
San Miguel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel County | 2.27 | 45.7 | 14.3% | 26.9% | 20.4% | 1977 | $825 | 27.2% | 87.6% | 4.9% |
| Santa Fe County | 2.29 | 48.8 | 9.2% | 28.5% | 9.9% | 1988 | $1,481 | 44.6% | 90.8% | 5.3% |
| McKinley County | 3.35 | 34.8 | 27.3% | 30.2% | 15.7% | 1985 | $843 | 13.4% | 82.1% | 9.2% |
| Hutchinson County | 2.91 | 39.6 | 9.1% | 16.7% | 30.5% | 1970 | $1,010 | 16.2% | 84.9% | 3.8% |
| Apache County | 3.18 | 37.7 | 18.7% | 20.6% | 25.3% | 1988 | $713 | 17.1% | 85.1% | 10.0% |
| Gray County | 2.37 | 38.3 | 13.5% | 23.6% | 19.2% | 1964 | $931 | 17.1% | 83.9% | 5.8% |
| Roger Mills County | 2.37 | 43.1 | 8.6% | 16.9% | 23.5% | 1974 | $798 | 24.9% | 94.3% | 3.2% |
| Coconino County | 2.39 | 36.7 | 11.9% | 40.3% | 15.2% | 1992 | $1,420 | 40.6% | 92.3% | 6.0% |
| Custer County | 2.49 | 34.0 | 10.7% | 39.8% | 15.2% | 1978 | $852 | 31.6% | 88.5% | 4.2% |
| Canadian County | 2.94 | 36.4 | 10.7% | 25.2% | 6.3% | 1999 | $1,476 | 33.2% | 93.1% | 4.2% |
| Oklahoma County | 2.53 | 36.5 | 13.2% | 41.8% | 9.6% | 1980 | $1,291 | 35.4% | 87.7% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pontotoc County, MS · Laclede County, MO · Lafayette County, MO · Lajas Municipio, PR · Lake County, MT · Lamoille County, VT · Lares Municipio, PR · Lee County, IL · Polk County, MO · Labette County, KS
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 San Miguel 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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