Las Cruces, NM

Census Place

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2024 Population

114,197

US Senator

Martin Heinrich

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ben Ray Luján

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

0.917% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

22.6%

2.81% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$55,422

0.446% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$231,700

6.58% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

50,722

1.92% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Las Cruces, NM reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

94.6% of the residents in Las Cruces, NM are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Las Cruces, NM are New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (1,297 degrees awarded in 2023), Olympian Academy of Cosmetology-LAS CRUCES Campus (440 degrees), and Glitz School of Cosmetology (121 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Las Cruces, NM was $231,700, and the homeownership rate was 55.9%.

Most people in Las Cruces, NM drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Las Cruces, NM was 2 cars per household.

United States New Mexico Doña Ana County, NM Las Cruces, NM Doña Ana County (Outer) PUMA, NM Doña Ana County Central--Las Cruces, Mesilla Cities & University Park PUMA, NM

Population & Diversity

Las Cruces, NM is home to a population of 114k people, from which 94.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 10.2% of Las Cruces, NM residents were born outside of the country (11.6k people).

In 2024, there were 1.33 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (37.2k people) in Las Cruces, NM than any other race or ethnicity. There were 27.9k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 20.6k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.6%

2024 Citizenship

94.8%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94.6% of Las Cruces, NM residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Las Cruces, NM was 94.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Las Cruces, NM compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Las Cruces, NM

White (Non-Hispanic)
37.2k ± 1.28k
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
27.9k ± 2.08k
Other (Hispanic)
20.6k ± 2.05k

60.3%

Hispanic Population

68.8k people

60.3% of the people in Las Cruces, NM are hispanic (68.8k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Las Cruces, NM as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for New Mexico.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
124,411 ± 8,401 people
Philippines
6,498 ± 1,976 people
Germany
4,186 ± 1,587 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New Mexico was Mexico, the natal country of 124,411 New Mexico residents, followed by Philippines with 6,498 and Germany with 4,186.

Foreign-Born Population

10.2%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

11.6k people

10.1%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

11.4k people

As of 2024, 10.2% of Las Cruces, NM residents (11.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Las Cruces, NM was 10.1%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Las Cruces, NM compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,196 ± 341
Gulf War (2001-)
1,920 ± 511
Gulf War (1990s)
1,014 ± 243

Las Cruces, NM has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.14 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Las Cruces, NM.

Economy

The economy of Las Cruces, NM employs 50.7k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Las Cruces, NM were Health Care & Social Assistance (7,902 people), Educational Services (7,787 people), and Retail Trade (5,818 people), and the highest paying industries were Information ($97,672), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($70,594), and Public Administration ($68,901).

Employment

Occupations

50.7k

2024 Value

± 2,397

1.92%

1 Year growth

± 6.61%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Las Cruces, NM grew at a rate of 1.92%, from 49.8k employees to 50.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Las Cruces, NM, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (5,430 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (5,084 people), and Management Occupations (4,298 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Las Cruces, NM.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Mexico.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in New Mexico (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

50.7k

2024 Value

± 2,397

1.92%

1 Year growth

± 6.61%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Las Cruces, NM grew at a rate of 1.92%, from 49.8k employees to 50.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Las Cruces, NM, are Health Care & Social Assistance (7,902 people), Educational Services (7,787 people), and Retail Trade (5,818 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Las Cruces, NM, though some of these residents may live in Las Cruces, NM and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$35,890

Median earning men ± $1,793

$32,861

Median earning women ± $2,966

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($98,922), Public Administration ($89,652), and Wholesale Trade ($77,679).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($86,630), Public Administration ($54,318), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($54,167).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Mexico.

Y-Axis

2.72%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 860k people employed in New Mexico. This represents a 2.72% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in New Mexico.

Education

In 2023, universities in Las Cruces, NM awarded 1,858 degrees. The student population of Las Cruces, NM in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 2,848 male students and 4,572 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Las Cruces, NM are Hispanic or Latino (1,251 and 68.5%), White (336 and 18.4%), Black or African American (102 and 5.59%), and Unknown (73 and 4%).

The largest universities in Las Cruces, NM by number of degrees awarded are New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (1,297 and 69.8%), Olympian Academy of Cosmetology-LAS CRUCES Campus (440 and 23.7%), and Glitz School of Cosmetology (121 and 6.51%).

The most popular majors in Las Cruces, NM are General Studies (450 and 24.2%), General Cosmetology (230 and 12.4%), and Aesthetician & Skin Care Specialist (122 and 6.57%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 7,420 students enrolled in Las Cruces, NM, 38.4% men and 61.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 5,109 records, of which 62.1% were women and 37.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
64 degrees awarded
General Business
47 degrees awarded
General Studies
450 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Las Cruces, NM was Criminal Justice - Safety Studies with 64 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Las Cruces, NM according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
1,297 degrees awarded
Olympian Academy of Cosmetology-LAS CRUCES Campus
440 degrees awarded
Glitz School of Cosmetology
121 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was New Mexico State University-Dona Ana with 1,297 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 613 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Las Cruces, NM, which is 0.492 times less than the 1,245 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 1,251 degrees mean that there were 3.72 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 336 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($2,040) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($678) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,240) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Las Cruces, NM was $231,700 in 2024, which is 0.696 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $217,400 to $231,700, a 6.58% increase. The homeownership rate in Las Cruces, NM is 55.9%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Las Cruces, NM have an average commute time of 18.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Las Cruces, NM is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$231,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,198

$26,559

Median Property Taxes

±$1,615

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Las Cruces, NM the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Las Cruces, NM compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

55.9%

Homeownership

2024

68.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 55.9% of the housing units in Las Cruces, NM were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 55.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Las Cruces, NM compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$55,422

Median Household Income

± $3,044

47.5k

Number of Households

± 2,240

In 2024, the median household income of the 47.5k households in Las Cruces, NM grew to $55,422 from the previous year's value of $55,176.

The following chart displays the households in Las Cruces, NM distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Las Cruces, NM is from New Mexico.

0.462

2023 Wage GINI in New Mexico

0.462

2022 Wage GINI in New Mexico

In 2023, the income inequality in New Mexico was 0.462 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0654% growth from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for New Mexico was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in New Mexico in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in New Mexico across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (73.3%)
Carpooled (11.2%)
Worked At Home (10.7%)

In 2024, 73.3% of workers in Las Cruces, NM drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11.2%) and those who worked at home (10.7%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Las Cruces, NM have a shorter commute time (18.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.38% of the workforce in Las Cruces, NM have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Las Cruces, NM compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Las Cruces, NM distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Las Cruces, NM have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

22.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Las Cruces, NM (25.5k out of 113k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Las Cruces, NM is Hispanic, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.5% of the population of Las Cruces, NM has health coverage, with 31.1% on employee plans, 31.4% on Medicaid, 11.7% on Medicare, 14.4% on non-group plans, and 1.87% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in New Mexico see 1,344 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,344 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1436 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 215 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.4% under 18 years, 28.2% between 18 and 34 years, 31.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.5%

Uninsured

31.1%

Employer Coverage

31.4%

Medicaid

11.7%

Medicare

14.4%

Non-Group

1.87%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Las Cruces, NM grew by 9.12% from 8.71% to 9.5%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Las Cruces, NM changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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