Highland Meadows, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Highland Meadows, New Mexico had a total population of 405, the 281st largest community in New Mexico, with a median household income of $58,672, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (26.9%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 9.8% is notably above the national average.
Highland Meadows Quick Facts
How Highland Meadows Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 332 | 405 | +22.0% |
| Median home value | $130,500 | $131,300 | +0.6% |
How Highland Meadows Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 63 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Highland Meadows Rankings in New Mexico
Explore New Mexico Rankings
Other Cities in Valencia County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Lunas | 18,618 | $62,330 | 18.2% | $262,900 |
| Belen | 7,450 | $42,627 | 31.2% | $166,100 |
| El Cerro Mission | 5,323 | $49,470 | 25.0% | $115,300 |
| Rio Communities | 4,925 | $46,035 | 13.4% | $205,900 |
| Los Chaves | 4,838 | $79,662 | 24.8% | $285,700 |
| Meadow Lake | 4,259 | $43,649 | 20.6% | $77,900 |
| Bosque Farms | 4,071 | $82,188 | 17.0% | $293,100 |
| Peralta | 3,404 | $73,131 | 5.2% | $299,200 |
| El Cerro | 2,923 | $106,136 | 5.9% | $311,500 |
| Valencia (Valencia County) | 2,406 | $55,170 | 29.4% | $262,900 |
Cities Similar to Highland Meadows
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve | 402 | N/A | $123,200 | 5.5% | 56.3% |
| Glorieta | 385 | N/A | $438,900 | 55.9% | 3.9% |
| Tierra Amarilla | 429 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Monument | 432 | N/A | $261,400 | 0.0% | 2.5% |
| Gila | 366 | N/A | N/A | 15.6% | 30.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 405, Highland Meadows'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
Highland Meadows is a small community located in New Mexico, within Valencia County. The total population is 405. It ranks as the 281st most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.
Age Demographics
The median age in Highland Meadows is 28.7 years. This is 27% lower than the state median of 39.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Highland Meadows is $58,672. This is 8% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.9%. This is 51% 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 9.8%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $131,300. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Highland Meadows is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Highland Meadows is White (non-Hispanic), making up 50.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 45.9%.
Education
10.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% 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 78.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Highland Meadows, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Highland Meadows, New Mexico?
Highland Meadows, New Mexico has a population of 405 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Highland Meadows, NM?
The median household income in Highland Meadows is $58,672, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Highland Meadows, NM?
The poverty rate in Highland Meadows is 26.9%. This means approximately 109 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Highland Meadows, New Mexico?
Highland Meadows's population is 50.9% White, 0.0% Black, 45.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Highland Meadows, NM?
The median home value in Highland Meadows is $131,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Highland Meadows, New Mexico?
10.2% of adults (25+) in Highland Meadows hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.