Thunder Mountain, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Thunder Mountain is a small community located in New Mexico, within Santa Fe County. The total population is 1,366. It ranks as the 126th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thunder Mountain is 63.3 years. This is 61% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. Only 9.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.9% 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 Thunder Mountain is $47,309. This is 26% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.9%. This is 84% lower than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Thunder Mountain, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $400,000. Housing costs are 61% higher than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 99.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Thunder Mountain is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (82.5% vs 36.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (11.9%) is well below the state average of 48.4%.

Education

41.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% higher 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 93.7%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Thunder Mountain, New Mexico is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Mexico state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.