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COUNTY

Quay County

New Mexico · 8,454 residents (2025 est.) · 2,873.955 sq mi
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The short version

Quay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,946. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 1,591 residents. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $87,200. With a median age of 48.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 35% less than the New Mexico median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,564
−16%since 2000
from 10,155 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.9
+18%since 2000
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,454 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K9K10K10K11K1990201020202024Quay County
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 51.7%(144)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(551)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.6%(818)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194%(345)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(432)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.7%(913)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.3%(713)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(1,097)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.1%(1,291)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.3%(1,397)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.7%(577)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(286)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,946
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,894 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,573
+111%since 2000
from $14,938 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+14.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.543
+18%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction6.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade1.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$87,200
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$712
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $311 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.6% in 2000
28.4% rent
Vacancy rate
20.7%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.2%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
−10%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
25
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Quay County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic58.6%(5,953)
Black0.8%(78)
Hispanic / Latino38%(3,857)
Asian0.8%(81)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic47.9%(4,101)
Black0.1%(7)
Hispanic / Latino44.9%(3,844)
Asian0%(0)
Other7.1%(612)
Diversity Score
71
+6%since 2009
from 66 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
−23%since 2020
from 35 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
Mexican24.2%(2,075)
Spaniard6.5%(557)
Salvadoran1.1%(97)
Puerto Rican0.6%(48)
Cuban0.2%(18)
Venezuelan0.1%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(7)
Ancestry
English8.3%(708)
American8%(681)
Irish6%(515)
German5.5%(474)
Italian4.3%(366)
French3.3%(284)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(113)
Scottish1.2%(101)
Russian1.1%(93)
Polish0.9%(76)
Welsh0.5%(42)
Swedish0.4%(32)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian0.4%(30)
Dutch0.3%(29)
Norwegian0.2%(20)
British0.2%(13)
Portuguese0.1%(11)
Finnish0.1%(6)
Czech0%(2)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Spaniard population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.1%
+18.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.4 min
−2%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2011
from 48.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
21.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.7%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.2%
−36.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.1%
Unchangedsince 2012
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−80.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
76.4%
+20.8 ptssince 2017
from 55.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2016
from 77.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
17.1%
−5.5 ptssince 2016
from 22.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.5%(1,158)
Married51%(1,762)
Widowed3.9%(136)
Divorced11.6%(402)
Women 15+
Never married19.7%(707)
Married47.9%(1,722)
Widowed14.1%(506)
Divorced18.3%(658)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Quay County to nearby counties

QUAY COUNTY VS
Curry County
Income$57,309+37%
Home value$171,200+96%
Population46,655+452%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Deaf Smith County
Income$60,799+45%
Home value$121,300+39%
Population18,626+120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Harding County
Income$48,553+16%
Home value$70,000−20%
Population617−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Oldham County
Income$79,900+90%
Home value$162,800+87%
Population1,783−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Quay County, New Mexico?

Quay County, New Mexico has about 8,564 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Quay County, New Mexico?

The typical household in Quay County, New Mexico earns about $41,946 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Quay County, New Mexico expensive?

In Quay County, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $87,200, and the typical rent is about $712 a month.

How educated are people in Quay County, New Mexico?

About 19.6% of adults age 25 and over in Quay County, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Quay County, New Mexico?

About 27.1% of people in Quay County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Quay County, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Quay County, New Mexico has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,259 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9586.02Census Tract 9586.01Census Tract 9589
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 88401ZIP 88120ZIP 88430ZIP 88434ZIP 88121ZIP 88427ZIP 88411
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →