COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Sierra County

New Mexico · 13,270 residents · 4,181 sq mi

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Sierra County is home to 13,270 people in New Mexico. The median age is 48.9, about 14 years above the US median. The population is up 34% since 1990. About 13% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $62,200. That trails the New Mexico median by roughly 29%.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $42,589

Older

median age 48.9

US median: 35.2

Less educated

13% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 24%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $120,530

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

13,270

+34%since 1990

from 9,912 in 1990

1990 – 2025

Median age

48.9

−5%since 1990

from 51.3 in 1990

US average: 35.2

Land area

4,181 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202412K

Age distribution, 2000

Under 54.8%(631)

US avg: 6.8%

5 to 95.5%(727)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.1%(816)

US avg: 7.3%

15 to 195.6%(744)

US avg: 7.2%

20 to 243.5%(466)

US avg: 6.7%

25 to 347.6%(1,003)

US avg: 14.2%

35 to 4411.9%(1,582)

US avg: 16%

45 to 5413.4%(1,784)

US avg: 13.4%

55 to 6413.9%(1,846)

US avg: 8.6%

65 to 7414.9%(1,971)

US avg: 6.5%

75 to 849.7%(1,287)

US avg: 4.4%

85 and over3.1%(413)

US avg: 1.5%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$24,152

+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $15,612 in 1990

US average: $42,589

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$15,023

+48%since 1990

from $10,124 in 1990

US average: $21,522

Poverty rate

20.9%

+1.3 ptssince 1990

from 19.6% in 1990

US average: 12.4%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$62,200

Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990

from $47,300 in 1990

US average: $120,530

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$348

+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $226 in 1990

US average: $602

Owner-occupied

74.9%

+1.6 ptssince 1990

from 73.3% in 1990

25.1% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990

White, non-Hispanic94.1%(9,331)

Black0.4%(41)

Hispanic / Latino23.9%(2,368)

Asian0.1%(12)

2000

White, non-Hispanic70.5%(9,356)

Black0.4%(55)

Hispanic / Latino26.3%(3,488)

Asian0.2%(23)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican21.3%(2,448)

Spaniard1.1%(132)

Puerto Rican0.4%(46)

Central American0%(2)

Guatemalan0%(2)

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)

Canadian0%(1)

RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

13.1%

+4.7 ptssince 1990

from 8.5% in 1990

US average: 24.4%

High school or higher

76.1%

+12.3 ptssince 1990

from 63.7% in 1990

US average: 80.3%

Graduate degree

5.4%

+2.1 ptssince 1990

from 3.3% in 1990

US average: 8.8%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

14.5 min

−11%since 1990

from 16.3 min in 1990

US average: 17.6

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status

Men 15+

Never married20.5%(1,131)

Married57.7%(3,181)

Widowed7%(388)

Divorced14.8%(817)

Women 15+

Never married11.9%(665)

Married56.2%(3,145)

Widowed17.6%(984)

Divorced14.3%(798)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

4.1%

−18.5 ptssince 2013

from 22.6% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

33.5%

−1.7 ptssince 2020

from 35.2% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

12.9%

−3.4 ptssince 2020

from 16.3% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

41.2%

+2.6 ptssince 2020

from 38.6% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

37.1%

−0.9 ptssince 2020

from 38.0% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

7.3%

+0.1 ptssince 2020

from 7.2% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

47.6%

−4.9 ptssince 2020

from 52.5% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

69.6%

+0.2 ptssince 2020

from 69.4% 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)12.3%(191)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)7.4%(116)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era41.5%(647)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War8.2%(128)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,559 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

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