Des Moines, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 174, Des Moines'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

Des Moines is a small community located in New Mexico, within Union County. The total population is 174. It ranks as the 377th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Des Moines is 17.8 years. This is 55% lower than the state median of 39.4 years. With 50.6% of the population under 18, Des Moines has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Des Moines is $63,864. This is about the same as the state median of $64,059. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.9%. This is 45% 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 Des Moines, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $152,500. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Des Moines is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Des Moines is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 24.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (3.5% vs 1.8%).

Education

26.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 74.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Des Moines, 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.