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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Sierra County

New Mexico · 11,576 residents · 4,181 sq mi
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The short version

With 11,576 people, Sierra County is a county in New Mexico. The median age is 57.3, about 18 years above the US median. Households here earn about 34% less than in New Mexico as a whole. The poverty rate is 23.9%, above the 12.8% national rate. The typical home is worth $120,100, having more than doubled since 2000. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 57.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

11,576
−13%since 2000
from 13,270 in 2000
1990 – 2025
57.3
+17%since 2000
from 48.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
4,181 sq mi
Population, 19902024
10K11K12K13K14K19902000201020202024Sierra County
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.4%(393)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.2%(482)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145%(584)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.3%(499)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.2%(365)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.3%(956)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 448.3%(963)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410%(1,156)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.5%(2,024)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7421.4%(2,475)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8411.2%(1,297)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.3%(382)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$33,873
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,152 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$28,014
+86%since 2000
from $15,023 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
22.8%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
23.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction5.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$120,100
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$561
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,124
71.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
28.4% rent
1.98 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.25 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.5
+4%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.5%(9,356)
Black0.4%(55)
Hispanic / Latino26.3%(3,488)
Asian0.2%(23)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic64.8%(7,507)
Black0.6%(70)
Hispanic / Latino28.6%(3,311)
Asian1%(119)
Other5.3%(611)
11
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
Mexican21.9%(2,401)
Spaniard0.4%(46)
Guatemalan0.2%(27)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(44)
Vietnamese0.3%(30)
Japanese0.1%(10)
Ancestry
German11.8%(1,294)
Irish10.7%(1,171)
English9.7%(1,065)
American7.6%(840)
Scottish3.5%(385)
Italian2.8%(309)
French2%(216)
Welsh1.7%(188)
Polish1.4%(159)
Swedish1.2%(132)
Dutch0.8%(88)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(52)
Russian0.3%(35)
Lithuanian0.3%(33)
West Indian0.3%(29)
Ukrainian0.2%(27)
Austrian0.2%(25)
Hungarian0.2%(24)
Czech0.2%(18)
British0.2%(17)
Canadian0.2%(17)
Australian0.1%(15)
Portuguese0.1%(15)
Belgian0.1%(14)
Greek0.1%(13)
Serbian0.1%(13)
Iranian0.1%(8)
Section 05

Education

22.1%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.5%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
8.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.5 min
+7%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
76.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
7.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

7.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
40.4%
+4.8 ptssince 2011
from 35.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
65.0%
US average: 73.3%
42.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

50.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
49.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
4.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
4.4%
−18.2 ptssince 2013
from 22.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
80.4%
US average: 91.9%
91.8%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

4.4%
−18.2 ptssince 2013
from 22.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
35.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.3%
US average: 13.7%
38.6%
US average: 17.6%
38.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
7.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
52.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
69.4%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)1.1%(16)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)10.7%(157)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era55.1%(806)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.5%(124)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.8%(56)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,464 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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sierra County, New Mexico?

Sierra County, New Mexico has about 11,576 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sierra County, New Mexico earns about $33,873 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 $120,100, and the typical rent is about $561 a month.

How educated are people in Sierra County, New Mexico?

About 22.1% 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 23.9% 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 1,664 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →