Cibola County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cibola County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 27,059. It is the 16th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cibola County is 38.4 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cibola County is $51,765. This is 17% lower than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% lower. The poverty rate stands at 27.6%. This is 53% 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 8.5%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $120,000. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $232,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Cibola County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cibola County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 19.7%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 85.4%.