Velarde, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 229, Velarde'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

Velarde is a small community located in New Mexico, within Rio Arriba County. The total population is 229. It ranks as the 349th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Velarde is 70.1 years. This is 78% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 20.1% 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 Velarde is $97,776. This is 53% higher than the state median of $64,059. It is also 21% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Velarde. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Velarde, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $234,100. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Velarde is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Velarde was recorded as Hispanic or Latino. A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

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. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 33.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Velarde, 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.