Socorro County, New Mexico Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Socorro 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 Socorro County, New Mexico. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Socorro County, New Mexico. The estimated population of Socorro County, New Mexico is 16,605 people, with a median age of 40.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
16,605
 -0.71% -2.88%
2020
16,723
 -0.8% -
2019
16,858
 -0.84% -
2018
17,000
 -0.57% -
2017
17,098
 - -

Population of Socorro 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
33%
35.1%
 -5.98%
Black/African American
0.8%
0.1%
 +700.00%
Native
11.4%
8.8%
 +29.55%
Hispanic
50.6%
49.7%
 +1.81%
Asian
1.9%
2.2%
 -13.64%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.4%
4.1%
 -41.46%
Other
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%

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 Socorro 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 40 +0.25% 38.2 +0.79% 45.1 +10%
2020 39.9 +1.27% 37.9 +7.37% 41 -6.18%
2019 39.4 +0.51% 35.3 -0.28% 43.7 0%
2018 39.2 -2% 35.4 0% 43.7 +3.55%
2017 40 - 35.4 - 42.2 -

The median age of Socorro 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 1,019 +21.78% 1,011 -6.6% 1,246 935
10 to 19 1,428 +6.49% 1,069 -3.1% 1,511 1,017
20 to 29 1,425 -39.07% 841 +7.89% 937 906
30 to 39 1,127 -15.82% 611 +31.79% 941 815
40 to 49 643 +41.35% 1,109 -6.05% 900 1,039
50 to 59 1,397 -35.04% 1,312 -34.66% 927 908
60 to 69 1,152 0.76% 1,151 -4.16% 1,149 1,096
70+ 875 +18.09% 928 +30.86% 1,040 1,238

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Socorro County, New Mexico is $38,242.00.

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 Socorro County.

  • Under 25
    $25,583.00
  • 25 to 44
    $62,250.00
  • 45 to 64
    $35,826.00
  • 65 and over
    $31,127.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Socorro 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 Socorro County, New Mexico is currently $55,650.00.

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.

1.97% of households in Socorro 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 Socorro County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    33.76%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.59%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.83%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.00%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    9.70%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.16%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.97%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Socorro County is $19,840.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Socorro 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 Socorro 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
    9.79%
  • Bachelor's degree
    13.25%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.67%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    63.05%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.24%

Employment

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

The total population of Socorro County over the age of 16 is 13,170.

Of those people, a total of 42.40% 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 Socorro County is 40.70%.

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 1,274 24.70% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 1,070 66.00% 6.10%
25 to 29 years 773 42.00% 3.70%
30 to 34 years 670 63.30% 3.10%
35 to 44 years 1,728 69.70% 8.90%
45 to 54 years 2,140 55.60% 1.80%
55 to 59 years 992 66.10% 4.60%
60 to 64 years 1,271 33.90% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 2,019 14.50% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,233 3.60% 13.30%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Socorro 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 9,027 41.90% 2.40%
Black or African American 126 46.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1,540 40.50% 14.40%
Asian 239 74.50% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 794 47.50% 13.80%
Two or more races 1,444 39.70% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 6,320 40.10% 3.40%
Not Hispanic or Latino 4,845 42.60% 2.80%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Socorro 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 Socorro County is 5,357, with median earnings of $29,008.00.

Women in Socorro County, New Mexico earning approximately 90.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 5,357 $29,008.00
Male 2,683 $30,230.00
Female 2,674 $27,476.00

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 519 $55,273.00
Business and Financial 183 $37,639.00
Computer and Mathematical 270 $28,704.00
Architecture and Engineering 239 $48,281.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 221 $59,948.00
Community and Social Service 28 $48,846.00
Legal 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 660 $32,853.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 113 $11,146.00
Healthcare Practitioners 231 $34,732.00
Healthcare Support 223 $13,750.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 21 $11,339.00
Law Enforcement 73 $36,386.00
Food Preparation and Serving 315 $23,171.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 291 $20,968.00
Personal Care and Service 92 $10,000.00
Sales 229 $20,479.00
Office and Administrative Support 545 $20,679.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 107 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 262 $44,457.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 191 $34,946.00
Production 230 $12,647.00
Transportation and Material Moving 149 $54,261.00

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 216 $70,793.00 303 $48,160.00
Business and Financial 25 $24,625.00 158 $38,056.00
Computer and Mathematical 165 $28,449.00 105 $50,529.00
Architecture and Engineering 106 $66,250.00 133 $25,573.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 112 $85,573.00 109 $57,760.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 28 $48,846.00
Legal 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 246 $50,000.00 414 $27,237.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 55 $10,590.00 58 $15,870.00
Healthcare Practitioners 26 $41,731.00 205 $33,125.00
Healthcare Support 50 $14,394.00 173 $11,836.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 10 $12,083.00 11 $10,781.00
Law Enforcement 37 $36,645.00 36 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 223 $24,855.00 92 $20,333.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 204 $20,773.00 87 $21,641.00
Personal Care and Service 49 $23,015.00 43 $4,205.00
Sales 33 $21,528.00 196 $14,479.00
Office and Administrative Support 80 $19,195.00 465 $21,712.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 107 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 262 $44,457.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 191 $34,946.00 0 $0.00
Production 188 $13,265.00 42 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 133 $72,578.00 16 $0.00

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 4,834 households in Socorro County, with an average household size of 3.33 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 2,911 families in Socorro County with an average family size of 4.3 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 2,137 324 450 1,923
Average Household Size 3.61 6.95 6.72 1.6
Total Families 2,137 324 450 0
Average Household Size 3.61 5.63 6.61 0

Poverty

Of the 2,911 families in Socorro County, 21.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Socorro 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 7,641 housing units in Socorro County, New Mexico.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,834 63.26%
Vacant 2,807 36.74%

12.60% of the total 7,641 housing units in Socorro County are rental units. This is approximately 963 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 3,761 are occupied by the owner - or 49.22% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Socorro County is $688.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Socorro 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
    110
  • Less than $500
    370
  • $500 to $999
    326
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    222
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    41
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    4
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Socorro County is $112,500.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    825
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    900
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    624
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    645
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    489
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    221
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    46
  • $1,000,000 or more
    11

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    879
  • 1940 to 1949
    198
  • 1950 to 1959
    510
  • 1960 to 1969
    942
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,052
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,946
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,254
  • 2000 to 2009
    609
  • 2010 to 2013
    251
  • 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 Socorro County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    262
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,676
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,474
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,422

Commuting to Work

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

18.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Socorro 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
    303
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,894
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    647
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    556
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    222
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    19
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    358
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    7
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    31
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    69
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    119
  • 90 or more minutes
    151

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Socorro 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 Socorro County, New Mexico

We have data for 19 places in Socorro County, New Mexico. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.