Crystal, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 287, Crystal's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Crystal is a small community located in New Mexico, within San Juan County. The total population is 287. It ranks as the 317th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Crystal is 35.5 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.4 years. 10.4% 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 Crystal is $43,125. This is 33% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 47% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 33.8%. This is 89% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Crystal, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $89,000. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Crystal is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Crystal is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 2.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 36.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 48.4%.

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Crystal, New Mexico is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Mexico state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.