Santa Fe County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Santa Fe County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 155,175. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Fe County is 48.5 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 39.2 years. 10.4% 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 Santa Fe County is $74,689. This is 20% higher than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $416,900. Housing costs are 80% higher than the state median of $232,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 70.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Fe County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 48.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.1%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

44.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Santa Fe County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 46% 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 91.4%. Notably, 22.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.