Sierra 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 | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,122 | 2,109,122 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2.6 | 17.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.10% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 57.2 | 37.7 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,419 | 824,565 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sierra County declined by 9.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 11,512 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sierra County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,489 | $62,378 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.50% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sierra County is about 40% lower than in New Mexico.
Housing
| Metric | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $145,835 | $197,886 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $694 | $1,020 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.2% | 69.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sierra County is about 17.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $694 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sierra County spend about 22 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 92 hours, about 3.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 11.0 | 18.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 22.0 | 37.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 92 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,841 | $4,840 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 11.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,135 | 4,931 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 214 | 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 Sierra County is 11 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
Sierra County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 26.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.08 | 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
Sierra County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Sierra County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.5 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 20.1% | 17.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.3% | 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 Sierra County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Sierra County, New Mexico?
The population of Sierra County, New Mexico is 11,122, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sierra County, New Mexico?
The population density of Sierra County, New Mexico is 2.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sierra County, New Mexico?
The median household income in Sierra County, New Mexico is $37,489, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sierra County, New Mexico?
The median home price in Sierra County, New Mexico is $145,835, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sierra County, New Mexico?
The unemployment rate in Sierra County, New Mexico is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.