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Curry County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Curry County, New Mexico has a population of 47,638, the 12th most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $57,309 and the median home value is $171,200. The poverty rate is 20.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Curry County Quick Facts

Population 47,638
Median Household Income $57,309
Median Home Value $171,200
Poverty Rate 20.5%
Unemployment Rate 8.2%
Median Age 31.9 years
Homeownership Rate 62.7%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.3%
High School Graduation 83.1%
Cities/Places 5
Population 47,638 12th of 33
Median Income $57,309 11% lower than state
Poverty Rate 20.5%
Unemployment 8.2%

How Curry County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population47,93247,638-0.6%
Median household income$56,259$57,309+1.9%
Median home value$160,800$171,200+6.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.4%
$25K-$50K 22.0%
$50K-$100K 31.0%
$100K+ 24.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.1%
$10K-$15K
6.7%
$15K-$20K
4.9%
$20K-$25K
3.7%
$25K-$30K
5.7%
$30K-$35K
2.7%
$35K-$40K
4.4%
$40K-$45K
4.9%
$45K-$50K
4.2%
$50K-$60K
6.8%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
14.1%
$100K-$125K
11.1%
$125K-$150K
3.8%
$150K-$200K
5.2%
$200K+
4.5%

Employment

8.2% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%
63.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.7%
Renter 37.3%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,024/mo 21.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

60out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Curry County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Clovis37,942$54,82021.7%$169,400
Cannon AFB2,405$63,0008.5%N/A
Texico967$65,00016.6%$95,900
Melrose447$32,75038.7%$78,500
Grady99$71,1017.1%N/A

Population Overview

Curry County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 47,638. It is the 12th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Curry County is 31.9 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 39.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Curry County is $57,309. This is 11% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 15% 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 unemployment rate is 8.2%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $171,200. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 62.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Curry County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 45.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 43.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (5.0% vs 1.8%).

Education

23.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 83.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Curry County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Curry County, New Mexico?

Curry County has a population of 47,638, making it the 12th most populous county in New Mexico.

What is the median income in Curry County?

The median household income in Curry County is $57,309 with a poverty rate of 20.5%.

How many cities are in Curry County, New Mexico?

Curry County contains 5 Census-designated places.