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METRO AREA

Las Cruces Metro

Las Cruces, NM · 1 counties · 229,091 residents (2025 est.) · 3,808 sq mi
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The short version

With 224,266 people, Las Cruces is a metro area. This skews young, with a median age of 34.3. The population is up 28% since 2000. The poverty rate is 21.3%, above the 12.5% national rate. The typical home is worth $220,800, having roughly tripled since 2000. Renters pay $934 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $56,848, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Las Cruces

What changed most since 1990

  • Population135,510 → 224,266 (+65%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$160,565 → $220,800 (+38%)US over the same years: +67%
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree21.9% → 31.7% (+9.8 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts

Among the 17 metro and micro areas based in New Mexico

  • 8th in household income$56,848
  • 6th in share with a bachelor's degree31.7%
  • 7th in home value$220,800
  • 15th in diversity score58.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
224,266
+28%since 2000
from 174,682 in 2000
229,091 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
59 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 46 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.3
+14%since 2000
from 30.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
3,808 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
127K153K180K207K233K19902000201020202024Las Cruces
2024224K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(12,848)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(12,739)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(16,769)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.2%(18,290)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410.5%(23,479)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.3%(29,888)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(25,581)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410%(22,502)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.7%(23,939)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.9%(22,092)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.2%(11,625)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(4,514)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,848
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,808 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,907
+114%since 2000
from $13,999 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.4%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 25.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.478
+4%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$220,800
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$934
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 67.5% in 2000
34.5% rent
Vacancy rate
8.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.58 people
−7%since 2009
from 2.76 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
20.7%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+7%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic32.5%(56,688)
Black1.3%(2,261)
Hispanic / Latino63.4%(110,665)
Asian0.7%(1,241)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic26.7%(59,878)
Black1.4%(3,029)
Hispanic / Latino67.9%(152,201)
Asian1.1%(2,577)
Other2.9%(6,581)
Diversity Score
58
−4%since 2009
from 61 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
36
−2%since 2020
from 37 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
Mexican59.3%(133,052)
Spaniard2.6%(5,807)
Puerto Rican0.5%(1,159)
Central American0.5%(1,014)
Salvadoran0.2%(410)
Colombian0.1%(306)
Guatemalan0.1%(255)
Honduran0.1%(170)
Panamanian0.1%(135)
Cuban0%(64)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(761)
Asian Indian0.3%(734)
Bangladeshi0.2%(340)
Chinese0.1%(315)
Korean0.1%(150)
Japanese0.1%(130)
Vietnamese0%(104)
Thai0%(50)
Okinawan0%(13)
Burmese0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(301)
Guamanian0%(24)
Ancestry
German7.5%(16,828)
English6.7%(14,948)
Irish5.1%(11,346)
American3.5%(7,916)
Italian1.3%(3,020)
Scottish1.1%(2,551)
French1%(2,166)
Polish0.7%(1,665)
Swedish0.7%(1,541)
Dutch0.6%(1,330)
Norwegian0.5%(1,137)
+ 40 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.4%(867)
British0.4%(811)
Arab0.3%(673)
Welsh0.3%(651)
Greek0.3%(575)
Nigerian0.2%(516)
Danish0.2%(481)
Portuguese0.2%(478)
Russian0.2%(475)
Czech0.2%(458)
Hungarian0.2%(448)
West Indian0.2%(403)
Swiss0.2%(374)
Ghanaian0.2%(355)
Ukrainian0.1%(293)
Slovak0.1%(276)
Lithuanian0.1%(252)
Syrian0.1%(235)
Austrian0.1%(225)
Jamaican0.1%(225)
Finnish0.1%(181)
Iranian0.1%(174)
Lebanese0.1%(146)
Armenian0.1%(146)
Haitian0.1%(138)
Brazilian0.1%(133)
Belgian0.1%(126)
Croatian0%(105)
Canadian0%(74)
Egyptian0%(56)
Slovene0%(41)
Turkish0%(39)
Romanian0%(31)
Latvian0%(26)
Barbadian0%(17)
Serbian0%(9)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.7%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 22.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.4%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 61.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 66.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
14.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.3%
−9.7 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+20.4 ptssince 2017
from 70.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.1%
+5.8 ptssince 2020
from 89.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
86.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 86.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
54.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2016
from 49.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
42.9%
−6.1 ptssince 2016
from 49.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married43.8%(39,000)
Married44.2%(39,386)
Widowed2.8%(2,481)
Divorced9.2%(8,149)
Women 15+
Never married38.7%(35,947)
Married41.5%(38,596)
Widowed7.2%(6,666)
Divorced12.6%(11,685)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.3%
−9.7 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
36.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 38.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.8%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
18.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 18.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
36.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 38.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
47.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 48.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
52.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 52.4% 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)27.8%(3,515)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)27%(3,412)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.4%(4,094)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.6%(708)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(64)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 12,627 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
Over time

Las Cruces, decade by decade

Las Cruces population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990135,510$52,463$160,56521.9%64.7
2000174,682$54,300$134,80222.3%61.6
2010209,233$52,734$197,37225.4%59.6
2020219,561$53,359$186,16929.5%59.1
2024224,266$56,848$220,80031.7%58.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

Las CrucesCENTRAL116,978Sunland Park18,268Chaparral18,186Anthony8,900Santa Teresa6,041Vado2,895University Park2,782San Ysidro2,118Picacho Hills2,002Radium Springs1,908Mesilla1,818White Sands1,609Hatch1,584Berino1,454Butterfield Park1,119La Union1,071Salem916Doña Ana868San Miguel772San Pablo696Mesquite675Fairacres616Chamberino580Placitas CDP (Doña Ana County)516La Mesa473Tortugas381Rincon271Organ152Garfield85Rodey0
What's inside

1 component county

Doña Ana CountyCENTRAL229,091
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Las Cruces

Lake Havasu City
Pop 228,102
Fort Smith
Pop 234,140
Johnson City
Pop 216,416
Macon-Bibb County
Pop 238,553
Places similar to Las Cruces
Head to head

Compare Las Cruces side by side

LAS CRUCES VS
Lake Havasu City
Income$57,684+1%
Home value$281,000+27%
Population228,102same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAS CRUCES VS
Fort Smith
Income$58,315+3%
Home value$171,575−22%
Population234,140+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAS CRUCES VS
Johnson City
Income$58,506+3%
Home value$222,250+1%
Population216,416−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAS CRUCES VS
Macon-Bibb County
Income$59,225+4%
Home value$186,510−16%
Population238,553+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Las Cruces, NM?

Las Cruces, NM has about 224,266 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Las Cruces, NM?

The typical household in Las Cruces, NM earns about $56,848 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Las Cruces, NM expensive?

In Las Cruces, NM, the median home is worth about $220,800, and the typical rent is about $934 a month.

How educated are people in Las Cruces, NM?

About 31.7% of adults age 25 and over in Las Cruces, NM hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Las Cruces, NM?

About 21.3% of people in Las Cruces, NM live below the federal poverty line.

Has Las Cruces, NM grown since 1990?

Yes, Las Cruces, NM has grown since 1990. The population has added about 88,756 residents, a change of about 65 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →