Vaughn, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 493, Vaughn's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Vaughn is a small community located in New Mexico, within Guadalupe County. The total population is 493. It ranks as the 247th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Vaughn is 35.2 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 39.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Vaughn is $29,135. This is 55% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 51.9%. This is 191% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Vaughn, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $34,300. Housing costs are 86% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Vaughn is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Vaughn has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 4.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 36.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (95.5% vs 48.4%).

Education

7.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% 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 76.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Vaughn, 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.