Chaparral is a city of 18,186 people in New Mexico. Since 2000 the city has roughly tripled, up 12,069 people. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The median age is 31.6, younger than the US median of 38.9. 27.4% of locals live below the federal poverty line. 31% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $46,017, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Chaparral
What changed most since 1990
Population3,015 → 18,186(+503%)US over the same years: +35%
Hispanic share52.5% → 92.0%(+39.5 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
White share45.9% → 5.8%(−40.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)59%(519)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)66.1%(582)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.1%(177)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 880 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Chaparral, decade by decade
Chaparral population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,015
$51,669
$129,604
3.7%
64.2
2000
6,117
$41,337
$96,366
10.2%
60.2
2010
14,631
$36,381
$79,553
3.7%
34.2
2020
16,551
$37,799
$100,720
10.3%
27.9
2024
18,186
$46,017
$109,300
10.5%
18.7
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
