Chaves County, NM Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 63,892 | 2,109,122 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 10.5 | 17.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.26% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.3 | 37.7 | 37.1 |
| Households | 23,604 | 824,565 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Chaves County grew by 3.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 64,444 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Chaves County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,796 | $62,378 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.53% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Chaves County is about 15% lower than in New Mexico.
Housing
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $190,293 | $197,886 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $837 | $1,020 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.7% | 69.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Chaves County is about 18.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $837 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Chaves County spend about 31 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 128 hours, about 5.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.3 | 18.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 30.6 | 37.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 128 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,956 | $4,840 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,223 | 4,931 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 473 | 619 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New Mexico:
De Baca County (7.3 min), Quay County (8.7 min), Union County (10.1 min).
Slowest:
Mora County (48.6 min), Torrance County (33.7 min), Sandoval County (30.1 min).
The average commute time in Chaves County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in New Mexico.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Chaves County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 26.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.63 | 2.52 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New Mexico:
Los Alamos County (0.6), Santa Fe County (0.4), Bernalillo County (0.3).
Lowest:
Guadalupe County (0.2), Luna County (0.2), McKinley County (0.2).
Health
Chaves County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Chaves County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.2 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 18.4% | 17.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.9% | 18.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New Mexico:
Los Alamos County (0.8), Santa Fe County (0.8), Bernalillo County (0.8).
Lowest:
McKinley County (0.8), Cibola County (0.8), Luna County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chaves County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Chaves County, New Mexico?
The population of Chaves County, New Mexico is 63,892, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Chaves County, New Mexico?
The population density of Chaves County, New Mexico is 10.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Chaves County, New Mexico?
The median household income in Chaves County, New Mexico is $52,796, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Chaves County, New Mexico?
The median home price in Chaves County, New Mexico is $190,293, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Chaves County, New Mexico?
The unemployment rate in Chaves County, New Mexico is 5.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.