La Tierra, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 315, La Tierra'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

La Tierra is a small community located in New Mexico, within Santa Fe County. The total population is 315. It ranks as the 303rd most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Tierra is 70.9 years. This is 80% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 26.4% 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 La Tierra is $246,008. This is 284% higher than the state median of $64,059. It is also 205% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 64% lower than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. The survey records no unemployed residents in La Tierra, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $2,000,000+. Housing costs are 706% higher than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 92.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

La Tierra has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.3% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.3% vs 36.0%).

Education

88.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places La Tierra in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 186% higher than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 32.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Tierra, 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.