Colfax County, New Mexico Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Colfax County, New Mexico, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Colfax County, New Mexico. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Colfax County, New Mexico. The estimated population of Colfax County, New Mexico is 12,406 people, with a median age of 49.6.

We can look at the total population in Colfax County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
12,406
+2.48%
-0.93%
2020
12,106
 -0.51% -
2019
12,168
 -1.5% -
2018
12,353
 -1.35% -
2017
12,522
 - -

Population of Colfax County, New Mexico by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
46.3%
47.2%
 -1.91%
Black/African American
0.8%
0.6%
 +33.33%
Native
1.2%
1%
 +20.00%
Hispanic
49.5%
49.2%
 +0.61%
Asian
0.1%
0.3%
 -66.67%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.9%
1.7%
 +11.76%
Other
0.2%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Colfax County, New Mexico by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 49.6 -1.39% 48.4 +2.98% 50.7 -3.61%
2020 50.3 +0.2% 47 +1.51% 52.6 -0.57%
2019 50.2 +2.45% 46.3 -0.86% 52.9 +2.92%
2018 49 +0.41% 46.7 -1.48% 51.4 +2.19%
2017 48.8 - 47.4 - 50.3 -

The median age of Colfax County, New Mexico gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 685 -20.64% 640 -0.71% 542 635
10 to 19 696 +6.98% 569 +22.03% 739 670
20 to 29 693 +0.71% 620 -23.34% 697 486
30 to 39 713 -8.41% 549 +9.6% 654 603
40 to 49 599 -0.16% 703 -4.87% 597 648
50 to 59 831 -10.81% 943 -13.76% 742 819
60 to 69 1,055 +8.83% 990 +8.98% 1,148 1,079
70+ 1,045 +8.53% 1,191 +1.99% 1,135 1,212

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Colfax County, New Mexico is $39,483.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Colfax County.

  • Under 25
    $29,360.00
  • 25 to 44
    $39,167.00
  • 45 to 64
    $44,824.00
  • 65 and over
    $38,395.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Colfax County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Colfax County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Colfax County, New Mexico is currently $53,985.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.20% of households in Colfax County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Colfax County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    28.01%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    30.95%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.73%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    7.75%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10.87%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1.49%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.20%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Colfax County is $25,131.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Colfax County by the total population of Colfax County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Colfax County, New Mexico, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Colfax County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    13.46%
  • Bachelor's degree
    22.83%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    13.24%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    46.70%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.77%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Colfax County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Colfax County over the age of 16 is 10,459.

Of those people, a total of 49.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Colfax County is 47.00%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 639 52.60% 2.70%
20 to 24 years 615 73.20% 6.20%
25 to 29 years 568 76.60% 4.60%
30 to 34 years 607 72.00% 4.00%
35 to 44 years 1,231 77.30% 2.50%
45 to 54 years 1,412 64.50% 4.50%
55 to 59 years 813 69.00% 8.20%
60 to 64 years 1,197 44.40% 4.70%
65 to 74 years 2,026 23.80% 2.90%
75 years and over 1,351 4.20% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Colfax County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 8,118 51.60% 4.70%
Black or African American 90 14.40% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 233 31.30% 0.00%
Asian 13 69.20% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 931 43.50% 5.40%
Two or more races 1,074 43.50% 1.10%
Hispanic or Latino 4,824 52.30% 4.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,167 47.30% 4.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Colfax County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Colfax County is 4,917, with median earnings of $26,140.00.

Women in Colfax County, New Mexico earning approximately 67.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 4,917 $26,140.00
Male 2,508 $31,400.00
Female 2,409 $21,319.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 701 $32,614.00
Business and Financial 143 $53,179.00
Computer and Mathematical 42 $42,500.00
Architecture and Engineering 49 $73,875.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 32 $64,375.00
Community and Social Service 58 $49,000.00
Legal 32 $0.00
Educational and Library 268 $40,357.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 102 $2,499.00
Healthcare Practitioners 175 $50,104.00
Healthcare Support 172 $5,918.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 36 $26,042.00
Law Enforcement 126 $42,348.00
Food Preparation and Serving 325 $5,750.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 332 $28,889.00
Personal Care and Service 145 $5,074.00
Sales 774 $19,466.00
Office and Administrative Support 298 $34,286.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 53 $24,602.00
Construction and Extraction 296 $22,037.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 182 $43,824.00
Production 219 $33,594.00
Transportation and Material Moving 211 $33,315.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 473 $33,125.00 228 $27,414.00
Business and Financial 46 $50,978.00 97 $53,940.00
Computer and Mathematical 20 $35,227.00 22 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 49 $73,875.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 14 $168,409.00 18 $21,875.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 58 $49,000.00
Legal 24 $0.00 8 $0.00
Educational and Library 54 $48,750.00 214 $31,316.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 33 $2,499.00 69 $4,688.00
Healthcare Practitioners 19 $0.00 156 $50,000.00
Healthcare Support 2 $0.00 170 $5,867.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 25 $14,904.00 11 $0.00
Law Enforcement 116 $60,078.00 10 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 84 $12,083.00 241 $2,614.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 237 $35,662.00 95 $19,638.00
Personal Care and Service 23 $0.00 122 $2,499.00
Sales 272 $21,080.00 502 $18,393.00
Office and Administrative Support 28 $0.00 270 $30,000.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 47 $24,922.00 6 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 296 $22,037.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 173 $44,485.00 9 $0.00
Production 192 $32,500.00 27 $48,750.00
Transportation and Material Moving 151 $37,721.00 60 $33,152.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 5,638 households in Colfax County, with an average household size of 2.11 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 3,333 families in Colfax County with an average family size of 2.67 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,352 334 647 2,305
Average Household Size 2.7 2.86 2.99 1.14
Total Families 2,352 334 647 0
Average Household Size 2.67 2.57 2.71 0

Poverty

Of the 3,333 families in Colfax County, 13.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Colfax County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 9,583 housing units in Colfax County, New Mexico.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 5,638 58.83%
Vacant 3,945 41.17%

13.81% of the total 9,583 housing units in Colfax County are rental units. This is approximately 1,323 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 3,967 are occupied by the owner - or 41.40% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Colfax County is $619.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Colfax County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    348
  • Less than $500
    427
  • $500 to $999
    791
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    80
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    24
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    1
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Colfax County is $125,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Colfax County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    450
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,211
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    649
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    455
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    504
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    450
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    200
  • $1,000,000 or more
    48

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Colfax County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Colfax County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,502
  • 1940 to 1949
    616
  • 1950 to 1959
    882
  • 1960 to 1969
    738
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,618
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,479
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,320
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,276
  • 2010 to 2013
    152
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Colfax County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    444
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,743
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,917
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,534

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Colfax County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Colfax County that commute to work in a particular way.

19.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Colfax County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    722
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,346
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    747
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    256
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    180
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    130
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    216
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    134
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    110
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    79
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    101
  • 90 or more minutes
    234

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Colfax County, New Mexico in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Colfax County, New Mexico

We have data for 9 places in Colfax County, New Mexico. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.