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
median household income $52,938, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Chaves County
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share36.6% → 58.4%(+21.8 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree14.3% → 17.9%(+3.6 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
White share60.2% → 36.1%(−24.1 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)13.1%(412)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.5%(644)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.2%(1,108)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War10.4%(328)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.4%(45)
US avg: 1%
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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Chaves County, decade by decade
Chaves County 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
57,849
$52,235
$104,403
14.3%
62.9
2000
61,382
$51,941
$103,288
16.2%
67.0
2010
65,645
$53,981
$124,005
15.7%
67.0
2020
65,157
$56,062
$139,869
17.7%
66.8
2024
64,217
$52,938
$156,400
17.9%
65.9
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.
