Las Palomas, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 304, Las Palomas'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

Las Palomas is a small community located in New Mexico, within Sierra County. The total population is 304. It ranks as the 307th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Las Palomas is 65.7 years. This is 67% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 32.2% 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 Las Palomas is $73,864. This is 15% higher than the state median of $64,059. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Las Palomas. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Las Palomas, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $137,500. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Las Palomas is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Las Palomas has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.8% vs 36.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (10.2%) is well below the state average of 48.4%.

Education

6.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 80% 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 92.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Las Palomas, 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.