Sierra County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Name: Sierra County, New Mexico Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Sierra County, New Mexico has a population of 11,500, the 25th most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $41,600 and the median home value is $152,600. The poverty rate is 21.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sierra County Quick Facts

Population 11,500

Median Household Income $41,600

Median Home Value $152,600

Poverty Rate 21.4%

Unemployment Rate 4.2%

Median Age 57.6 years

Homeownership Rate 71.8%

Affordability Ratio 3.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 17.0%

High School Graduation 89.2%

Cities/Places 9

Population 11,500 25th of 33

Median Income $41,600 35% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.4%

Unemployment 4.2%

How Sierra County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	11,511	11,500	-0.1%
Median household income	$37,840	$41,600	+9.9%
Median home value	$144,800	$152,600	+5.4%

Median Household Income

Sierra

$41,600

$64,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sierra

$152,600

$248,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 30.7%

$25K-$50K 25.1%

$50K-$100K 28.2%

$100K+ 16.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.1%

$10K-$15K

8.6%

$15K-$20K

7.0%

$20K-$25K

8.0%

$25K-$30K

8.2%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

4.4%

$40K-$45K

5.0%

$45K-$50K

3.6%

$50K-$60K

10.3%

$60K-$75K

5.8%

$75K-$100K

12.1%

$100K-$125K

7.9%

$125K-$150K

5.4%

$150K-$200K

2.5%

$200K+

0.2%

Employment

4.2% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

37.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.8%

Renter 28.2%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $729/mo 21.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.6%

18-34

13.2%

35-54

18.9%

55-74

34.3%

75+

18.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Sierra County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Truth or Consequences	6,019	$33,788	31.7%	$124,600
Elephant Butte	1,790	$53,482	10.7%	$176,800
Arrey	491	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Williamsburg	466	$29,250	12.9%	$43,600
Las Palomas	304	$73,864	0.0%	$137,500
Caballo	233	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Hillsboro	150	N/A	29.3%	$197,300
Hot Springs Landing	110	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Oasis	75	N/A	76.0%	N/A

Explore New Mexico Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sierra County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 11,500. It is the 25th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sierra County is 57.6 years. This is 46% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 18.0% 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 Sierra County is $41,600. This is 35% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.4%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. 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 4.2%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $152,600. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 71.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sierra County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.1% vs 36.0%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

17.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 89.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sierra County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Mexico and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sierra County, New Mexico?

Sierra County has a population of 11,500, making it the 25th most populous county in New Mexico.

What is the median income in Sierra County?

The median household income in Sierra County is $41,600 with a poverty rate of 21.4%.

How many cities are in Sierra County, New Mexico?

Sierra County contains 9 Census-designated places.