Rio Arriba County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rio Arriba County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 40,165. It is the 13th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rio Arriba County is 42.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rio Arriba County is $53,901. This is 13% lower than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. 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 5.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $230,900. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $232,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rio Arriba County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 67.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 14.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (14.1%) is well below the state average of 36.5%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 86.4%.