Elephant Butte city, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Elephant Butte city is a small community located in New Mexico. The total population is 1,586. It ranks as the 111th most populous out of 492 cities and towns in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elephant Butte city is 66.1 years. This is 69% higher than the state median of 39.2 years. Only 6.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.5% 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 Elephant Butte city is $45,179. This is 27% lower than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 42% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 45% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $166,800. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $232,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 86.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elephant Butte city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 17.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.5% vs 36.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population (17.3%) is well below the state average of 48.1%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 97.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elephant Butte city, New Mexico is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against New Mexico state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 492 Census-designated places in New Mexico. For official data, visit data.census.gov.