United States › New Mexico › Chaves County COUNTY
Chaves County New Mexico · 63,364 residents (2025 est.) · 6,067 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Chaves County is a county of 64,217 people in New Mexico. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. There are 11 people per square mile. 24.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The typical home is worth $156,400, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $867 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 61,382 in 2000
63,364 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 10 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
57K 59K 62K 64K 67K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chaves County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $52,938
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,513 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,990 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.4%
Public administration 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$156,400
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$867
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $402 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 70.9% in 2000
28.7% rent
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.59 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 39.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 52.1%(31,970)
Hispanic / Latino 43.8%(26,904)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 36.1%(23,168)
Hispanic / Latino 58.4%(37,529)
from 68 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 22 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 83.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 63.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 34.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 41.1%(10,611)
Women 15+
Never married 29.7%(7,622)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 38.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 39.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 47.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 53.8% 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) 13.1%(412)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.5%(644)
Share of the 3,144 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Chaves County Head to head
Compare Chaves County to nearby counties CHAVES COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income $53,303 +1%
Home value $233,200 +49%
Population 19,844 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAVES COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income $78,426 +48%
Home value $212,600 +36%
Population 62,509 −1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAVES COUNTY VS
De Baca County
Income $40,804 −23%
Home value $187,500 +20%
Population 1,647 −97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHAVES COUNTY VS
Lea County
Income $68,015 +28%
Home value $184,000 +18%
Population 74,749 +18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Chaves County, New Mexico? Chaves County, New Mexico has about 64,217 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chaves County, New Mexico? The typical household in Chaves County, New Mexico earns about $52,938 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chaves County, New Mexico expensive? In Chaves County, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $156,400, and the typical rent is about $867 a month.
How educated are people in Chaves County, New Mexico? About 17.9% of adults age 25 and over in Chaves County, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chaves County, New Mexico? About 24.3% of people in Chaves County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chaves County, New Mexico grown since 1990? Yes, Chaves County, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,368 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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