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CITY

Mescalero

New Mexico · 832 residents · 17.9 sq mi
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The short version

Mescalero is a city of 832 people in New Mexico. The poverty rate is 42.7%, above the 12.5% national rate. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 8% of adults. That trails the New Mexico median by roughly 62%. The typical home is worth $43,300. That sits in the bottom 7% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

832
−33%since 2000
from 1,233 in 2000
1990 – 2024
47 / sq mi
−50%since 2009
from 92 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
44.6
+81%since 2000
from 24.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
17.9 sq mi
Population, 19902024
7239961K2K2K19902000201020202024Mescalero
2024832
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.2%(18)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94%(33)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410%(83)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193%(25)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2412%(100)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.6%(80)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.1%(84)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.8%(123)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.1%(142)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.8%(73)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.9%(41)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.6%(30)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$24,313
−40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,353 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$23,514
+175%since 2000
from $8,554 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
13.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
42.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 39.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.530
+11%since 2010
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Information5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$43,300
−52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$260
−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $195 in 2000
US average: $1,442
72.2%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 59.0% in 2000
27.8% rent
23.2%
+19.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.26 people
−36%since 2009
from 3.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
10.2%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
24.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
1.8
−52%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
8
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic2.8%(34)
Black0.2%(2)
Hispanic / Latino8.7%(107)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic6.5%(54)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(54)
Asian0%(0)
Other87%(724)
29
+103%since 2009
from 14 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.5%(46)
Ancestry
Turkish1%(8)
Irish0.8%(7)
English0.7%(6)
Italian0.7%(6)
Danish0.5%(4)
American0.2%(2)
Section 05

Education

7.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
74.0%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 67.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
0.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

17.1 min
+37%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
76.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 73.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
17.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
2.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
1.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
18.0%
−12.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

10.7%
−17.1 ptssince 2011
from 27.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
51.7%
−18.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 64.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
40.9%
−17.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
22.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

62.4%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
37.6%
−14.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
1.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
6.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
19.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 20.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
15.9%
−23.3 ptssince 2013
from 39.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
64.5%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 52.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
52.4%
−11.4 ptssince 2020
from 63.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
96.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 96.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
50.4%
−21.9 ptssince 2016
from 72.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
5.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.3%(210)
Married27.5%(117)
Widowed9.9%(42)
Divorced13.4%(57)
Women 15+
Never married40.1%(109)
Married19.9%(54)
Widowed7%(19)
Divorced33.1%(90)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

15.9%
−23.3 ptssince 2013
from 39.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
26.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 24.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
4.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
20.2%
+8.7 ptssince 2020
from 11.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
57.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 54.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
26.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 25.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
65.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2020
from 61.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)22%(9)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.5%(8)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era58.5%(24)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War14.6%(6)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 41 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Mescalero, New Mexico?

Mescalero, New Mexico has about 832 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Mescalero, New Mexico?

The typical household in Mescalero, New Mexico earns about $24,313 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mescalero, New Mexico expensive?

In Mescalero, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $43,300, and the typical rent is about $260 a month.

How educated are people in Mescalero, New Mexico?

About 7.7% of adults age 25 and over in Mescalero, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mescalero, New Mexico?

About 42.7% of people in Mescalero, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mescalero, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Mescalero, New Mexico has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 327 residents, a change of about -28 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →