Santa Fe city, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Fe city is a mid-sized community located in New Mexico. The total population is 88,224. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 492 cities and towns in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Fe city is 46.4 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 39.2 years. 10.2% 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 Santa Fe city is $70,110. This is 13% higher than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $411,500. Housing costs are 77% higher than the state median of $232,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 62.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Fe city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 49.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.2%.

Education

45.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% higher 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 91.0%. Notably, 23.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Fe 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.