Mescalero

Population: 814
Median household income: $28,167
Median home value: $48,300

Mescalero, a community in Otero County, New Mexico, has 814 residents. The median household income of $28,167 is below the Otero County median ($52,717).

Between 2019 and 2023, Mescalero's population declined 34.6% from 1,244 to 814, while its median home value fell 6.0% from $51,400 to $48,300.

The largest age group is 25 to 34, 19.3% of residents. American Indian & Alaska Native residents are the largest group, 85.0% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 814
Median age: 44.1 yrs
Median household income: $28,167
Median home value: $48,300
Median gross rent: $282
Housing units: 442
Homeownership rate: 70.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 10.6%
Unemployment rate: 8.8%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,244814

Median household income

$32,500$28,167

Median home value

$51,400$48,300

Median gross rent

$315$282

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,244	$32,500	$51,400	$315
2020	1,127	$31,164	—	$348
2021	987	$32,917	$28,300	$370
2022	891	$29,359	$32,500	$242
2023	814	$28,167	$48,300	$282

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.9%

5 to 1711.7%

18 to 2410.0%

25 to 3419.3%

35 to 447.1%

45 to 5411.7%

55 to 6417.8%

65 to 7412.8%

75 and over6.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	24	2.9%
5 to 17	95	11.7%
18 to 24	81	10.0%
25 to 34	157	19.3%
35 to 44	58	7.1%
45 to 54	95	11.7%
55 to 64	145	17.8%
65 to 74	104	12.8%
75 and over	55	6.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	42	5.2%
Black or African American	0	0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	692	85.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	18	2.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	62	7.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma29.5%

High school graduate24.1%

Some college or associate's35.8%

Bachelor's degree6.4%

Graduate or professional degree4.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	181	29.5%
High school graduate	148	24.1%
Some college or associate's	220	35.8%
Bachelor's degree	39	6.4%
Graduate or professional degree	26	4.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 16 min

Drove alone68.2%

Carpooled25.2%

Public transit1.9%

Walked2.5%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home0.0%

Other means2.2%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	217	68.2%
Carpooled	80	25.2%
Public transit	6	1.9%
Walked	8	2.5%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	0	0.0%
Other means	7	2.2%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	121	38.1%
15 to 29 min	139	43.7%
30 to 44 min	58	18.2%
45 to 59 min	0	0.0%
60+ min	0	0.0%

Households

Average household size: 2.35
Poverty rate: 40.3% (307 of 761)

	Count	Share
Family households	103	32.0%
Nonfamily households	219	68.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1979

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	322	72.9%
Vacant	120	27.1%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	228	70.8%
Renter-occupied	94	29.2%

1-unit, detached61.8%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units4.3%

5 to 19 units1.4%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other32.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	273	61.8%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	19	4.3%
5 to 19 units	6	1.4%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	144	32.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3547920
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 18 sq mi
Water area: 0.01 sq mi
Center point: 33.1346, -105.7999