Catron County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Catron County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 3,685. It is the 31st most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Catron County is 62.6 years. This is 60% higher than the state median of 39.2 years. Only 9.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 22.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Catron County is $46,439. This is 25% lower than the state median of $62,125. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 21.2%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $171,800. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $232,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 87.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Catron County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (78.9% vs 36.5%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (15.2%) is well below the state average of 48.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 30.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Catron County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against New Mexico and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.