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COUNTY

Sierra County

New Mexico · 11,395 residents (2025 est.) · 4,181.214 sq mi
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The short version

Sierra County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,600. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $152,600. With a median age of 57.6, 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 57.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,500
−13%since 2000
from 13,270 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
57.6
+18%since 2000
from 48.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,395 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K11K12K13K14K1990201020202024Sierra County
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.8%(433)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.6%(643)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.4%(274)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.2%(484)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.5%(407)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.3%(1,070)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.4%(970)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.5%(1,208)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.4%(1,546)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7420.8%(2,393)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8412.8%(1,477)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.2%(595)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,600
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,152 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,453
+76%since 2000
from $15,023 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.2%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.423
−9%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services0.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade0.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$152,600
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$729
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
28.2% rent
Vacancy rate
33.7%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.7%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.9%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+8%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sierra County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.5%(9,356)
Black0.4%(55)
Hispanic / Latino26.3%(3,488)
Asian0.2%(23)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.1%(7,252)
Black0.1%(17)
Hispanic / Latino29.8%(3,431)
Asian0.2%(18)
Other6.8%(782)
Diversity Score
64
+10%since 2009
from 58 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
+89%since 2020
from 11 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
Mexican21.3%(2,448)
Spaniard1.1%(132)
Puerto Rican0.4%(46)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(9)
Thai0.1%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(11)
Ancestry
English13.6%(1,567)
German11.3%(1,297)
Irish11.2%(1,286)
American8%(924)
Italian5.5%(632)
Scottish2.2%(254)
French1.9%(221)
Swedish1.9%(213)
Welsh1.7%(199)
Norwegian1.6%(181)
Polish0.8%(92)
Dutch0.7%(76)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.6%(67)
Lithuanian0.5%(58)
Swiss0.4%(47)
Danish0.4%(43)
Greek0.3%(39)
Czech0.2%(25)
Croatian0.2%(24)
Hungarian0.2%(23)
Slovak0.2%(21)
Arab0.2%(20)
Iraqi0.2%(20)
Russian0.1%(14)
Austrian0.1%(9)
British0.1%(9)
Finnish0.1%(7)
Romanian0.1%(7)
Ukrainian0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.2%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.8 min
+2%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.3%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
37.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2011
from 35.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
26.2%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.7%
−16.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
16.1%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
31.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 29.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.1%
−73.3 ptssince 2013
from 77.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+25.6 ptssince 2017
from 57.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
78.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 80.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 18.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.6%(1,312)
Married51.4%(2,534)
Widowed6.1%(299)
Divorced15.9%(785)
Women 15+
Never married25.9%(1,352)
Married40.6%(2,117)
Widowed17.9%(935)
Divorced15.6%(816)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Sierra County to nearby counties

SIERRA COUNTY VS
Doña Ana County
Income$56,848+37%
Home value$220,800+45%
Population229,091+1910%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Socorro County
Income$36,570−12%
Home value$137,500−10%
Population15,838+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Luna County
Income$36,419−12%
Home value$128,000−16%
Population25,407+123%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Grant County
Income$44,958+8%
Home value$175,600+15%
Population27,252+139%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sierra County, New Mexico?

Sierra County, New Mexico has about 11,500 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sierra County, New Mexico earns about $41,600 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sierra County, New Mexico expensive?

In Sierra County, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $152,600, and the typical rent is about $729 a month.

How educated are people in Sierra County, New Mexico?

About 17.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sierra County, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 21.4% of people in Sierra County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sierra County, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Sierra County, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,588 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9622Census Tract 9623Census Tract 9624.02Census Tract 9624.01
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 87901ZIP 87935ZIP 87942ZIP 87930ZIP 87931ZIP 87939ZIP 88042ZIP 87943ZIP 87933
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →