United States › New Mexico › Quay County COUNTY
Quay County New Mexico · 8,454 residents (2025 est.) · 2,874 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Quay County is home to 8,564 people in New Mexico. The median age is 48.9, about 10 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. The typical home is worth $87,200, having risen by half since 2000. The poverty rate is 27.1%, above the 12.5% national rate. There are 3 people per square mile.
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 from 10,155 in 2000
8,454 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 9K 10K 10K 11K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Quay County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $41,946
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,894 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,938 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 7.1%
Public administration 1.9%
Education & health services 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$87,200
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$712
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $311 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 70.6% in 2000
28.4% rent
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.93 people
−17%since 2009
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.3 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 58.6%(5,953)
Hispanic / Latino 38%(3,857)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 47.9%(4,101)
Hispanic / Latino 44.9%(3,844)
from 66 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 75.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 48.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 55.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 77.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 77.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 22.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 33.5%(1,158)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 38.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 27.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 42.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 49.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 64.1% 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) 27.3%(211)
Gulf War (1990s) 32.4%(250)
Share of the 772 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Quay County Head to head
Compare Quay County to nearby counties QUAY COUNTY VS
Curry County
Income $57,309 +37%
Home value $171,200 +96%
Population 46,655 +452%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Deaf Smith County
Income $60,799 +45%
Home value $121,300 +39%
Population 18,626 +120%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Harding County
Income $48,553 +16%
Home value $70,000 −20%
Population 617 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
QUAY COUNTY VS
Oldham County
Income $79,900 +90%
Home value $162,800 +87%
Population 1,783 −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.
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