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CITY

Thoreau

New Mexico · 1,973 residents · 39.5 sq mi
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The short version

Thoreau is a city of 1,973 people in New Mexico. 4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The average commute runs 46 minutes. 27.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $95,200. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
4% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

1,973
+6%since 2000
from 1,863 in 2000
2000 – 2024
50 / sq mi
+107%since 2009
from 24 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
34.8
+45%since 2000
from 24.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
39.5 sq mi
Population, 20002024
8111K2K2K3K2000201020202024Thoreau
20242K
2000201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.4%(146)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(122)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(130)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(146)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(103)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418%(355)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.5%(207)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.5%(208)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.8%(194)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.1%(200)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(129)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(33)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$45,469
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,280 in 2000
US average: $82,259
2000 – 2024
$19,920
+89%since 2000
from $10,516 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.3%
+22.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
27.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 30.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.467
+19%since 2010
from 0.391 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade11.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance10.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Information8.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services5.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$95,200
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
2000 – 2024
$483
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $262 in 2000
US average: $1,442
80.2%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
19.8% rent
19.8%
−31.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.15 people
−11%since 2009
from 3.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
3.4%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
41.1%
+41.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
2.1
+42%since 2009
from 1.5 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.
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic19.6%(366)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino9.3%(174)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic5.2%(102)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(80)
Asian2.1%(42)
Other88.6%(1,749)
26
−50%since 2009
from 53 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
Mexican4%(78)
Salvadoran0.1%(2)
Asian origin
Filipino1.3%(26)
Asian Indian0.8%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.3%(5)
Ancestry
German3.7%(73)
Irish1.2%(23)
American0.6%(11)
English0.3%(6)
Norwegian0.2%(3)
Section 05

Education

4.2%
−10.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
1.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

46.5 min
+112%since 2000
from 21.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
78.9%
+21.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
4.7%
−20.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
14.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
1.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
13.1%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

10.8%
−20.3 ptssince 2011
from 31.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
45.5%
−16.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
54.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 56.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
21.7%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 34.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
14.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

50.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
49.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
2.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
5.1%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
21.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
19.5%
−15.3 ptssince 2013
from 34.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
56.1%
+39.2 ptssince 2017
from 16.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
87.1%
+21.2 ptssince 2020
from 65.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
98.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2020
from 93.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
49.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 51.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
0.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married58%(467)
Married30.4%(245)
Widowed5.2%(42)
Divorced6.3%(51)
Women 15+
Never married55.6%(428)
Married30.1%(232)
Widowed10.8%(83)
Divorced3.5%(27)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

19.5%
−15.3 ptssince 2013
from 34.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
16.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.1%
+6.8 ptssince 2020
from 0.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
22.1%
+9.9 ptssince 2020
from 12.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
55.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 54.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 1.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
23.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 19.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
67.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2020
from 62.8% 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)10.5%(8)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)6.6%(5)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era14.5%(11)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 76 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 Thoreau, New Mexico?

Thoreau, New Mexico has about 1,973 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Thoreau, New Mexico earns about $45,469 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Thoreau, New Mexico expensive?

In Thoreau, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $95,200, and the typical rent is about $483 a month.

How educated are people in Thoreau, New Mexico?

About 4.2% of adults age 25 and over in Thoreau, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Thoreau, New Mexico?

About 27.5% of people in Thoreau, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →