Socorro County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

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

Socorro County, New Mexico has a population of 16,200, the 22nd most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $36,570 and the median home value is $137,500. The poverty rate is 33.2%.

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

Socorro County Quick Facts

Population 16,200

Median Household Income $36,570

Median Home Value $137,500

Poverty Rate 33.2%

Unemployment Rate 1.3%

Median Age 40.3 years

Homeownership Rate 75.1%

Affordability Ratio 3.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.0%

High School Graduation 85.3%

Cities/Places 14

Population 16,200 22nd of 33

Median Income $36,570 43% lower than state

Poverty Rate 33.2%

Unemployment 1.3%

How Socorro 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	16,308	16,200	-0.7%
Median household income	$47,556	$36,570	-23.1%
Median home value	$143,200	$137,500	-4.0%

Median Household Income

Socorro

$36,570

$64,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Socorro

$137,500

$248,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 38.0%

$25K-$50K 20.8%

$50K-$100K 27.4%

$100K+ 13.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.1%

$10K-$15K

17.5%

$15K-$20K

5.3%

$20K-$25K

6.0%

$25K-$30K

7.1%

$30K-$35K

3.5%

$35K-$40K

3.0%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

3.3%

$50K-$60K

8.6%

$60K-$75K

5.6%

$75K-$100K

13.2%

$100K-$125K

5.4%

$125K-$150K

1.5%

$150K-$200K

3.6%

$200K+

3.4%

Employment

1.3% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

40.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.1%

Renter 24.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $691/mo 22.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.0%

18-34

21.1%

35-54

21.2%

55-74

24.7%

75+

9.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Socorro County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Socorro	8,481	$39,375	32.6%	$152,900
Polvadera	1,033	$27,158	88.7%	$123,700
Magdalena	976	N/A	38.8%	$99,500
Lemitar	316	$93,902	10.8%	N/A
Alamillo	247	N/A	70.9%	N/A
Alamo	246	N/A	1.2%	N/A
San Acacia	176	N/A	76.1%	N/A
La Joya	159	N/A	40.3%	N/A
Veguita	157	$11,354	100.0%	N/A
San Antonito (Socorro County)	142	N/A	0.0%	N/A
San Antonio	89	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Las Nutrias	64	N/A	100.0%	N/A
Luis Lopez	53	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Chamizal	35	N/A	0.0%	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

Socorro County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 16,200. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Socorro County is 40.3 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Socorro County is $36,570. This is 43% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 33.2%. This is 86% 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 1.3%. This is 79% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $137,500. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Socorro County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 50.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 32.8%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 85.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Socorro 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 Socorro County, New Mexico?

Socorro County has a population of 16,200, making it the 22nd most populous county in New Mexico.

What is the median income in Socorro County?

The median household income in Socorro County is $36,570 with a poverty rate of 33.2%.

How many cities are in Socorro County, New Mexico?

Socorro County contains 14 Census-designated places.