Census-designated place · New Mexico

Chamita, New Mexico

Chamita, census-designated place, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Chamita had 1,005 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 867 (±155). GEOID 3514180.

Residents, 2020 Census

1,005

Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 867 ±155

Median household income

$68,472

±$10,097 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059

Median home value

$222,300

±$20,206 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100

Median gross rent

$938

±$471 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067

Where is Chamita and what county is it in?

Chamita is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. It covers 3.9 square miles of land, 261 residents per square mile in 2020.

Chamita is in the Española, NM micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Chamita (marked with a dot) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Chamita, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 1,005 residents in Chamita, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 867 (±155).

The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Chamita is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure ChamitaRio Arriba CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Total population 867 ±155 40,070 2,120,246 no clear change
Households 331 ±54 15,647 837,414 no clear change
Average household size 2.62 ±0.34 2.54 2.48 no clear change
Housing units 383 ±54 19,862 956,964 −114

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Chamita?

The median resident of Chamita is 38.9 years old; 25.5% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 91.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 6.7%. 5.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure ChamitaRio Arriba CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median age 38.9 ±5.2 42.0 39.4 −14.3
Under 18 years 25.5% ±7.6 pts 22.5% 21.7% –
65 years and over 20.9% ±6.5 pts 21.8% 19.3% –
Male 45.3% ±5.4 pts 49.4% 49.7% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 91.3% ±4.9 pts 67.2% 48.4% +8.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 6.7% ±4.3 pts 14.0% 36.0% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±1.0 pts 0.6% 1.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±4.8 pts 0.6% 1.6% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±4.8 pts 15.5% 8.5% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±4.8 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.5% ±1.5 pts 1.5% 3.1% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±4.8 pts 0.6% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 5.7% ±2.6 pts 6.3% 9.4% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 59.9% ±8.2 pts 51.4% 31.3% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 8.0% ±3.6 pts 5.6% 7.9% –
With a disability 15.1% ±4.5 pts 15.8% 17.0% –
No health insurance coverage 4.6% ±2.7 pts 8.7% 9.6% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 86.4% ±5.2 pts 87.7% 88.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 12.2% ±5.4 pts 19.0% 31.0% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 6.7% ±4.0 pts 8.6% 13.9% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 93.5% ±4.9 pts 95.6% 88.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.3% ±1.9 pts 0.9% 3.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Chamita earn?

Half of Chamita's 331 households earn less than $68,472 a year (±$10,097), against $57,155 in Rio Arriba County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 the median was $36,665 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $31,807 after inflation. 19.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure ChamitaRio Arriba CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $68,472 ±$10,097 $57,155 $64,059 +$31,807
Mean household income $80,845 ±$10,887 $76,460 $88,155 –
Per capita income $32,370 ±$5,289 $31,887 $36,218 no clear change
People below the poverty line 19.8% ±7.7 pts 18.2% 17.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 35.3% ±17.1 pts 27.1% 24.0% –
Households receiving SNAP 25.7% ±7.4 pts 18.8% 19.2% –
Households with a computer 85.8% ±6.4 pts 82.0% 93.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 70.1% ±9.5 pts 75.3% 86.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Chamita?

Owners occupy 85.8% of Chamita's occupied homes and renters 14.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,300 by its owner (±$20,206). The median renter pays $938 a month including utilities, and 56.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure ChamitaRio Arriba CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $222,300 ±$20,206 $243,700 $248,100 no clear change
Median gross rent $938 ±$471 $740 $1,067 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 56.8% ±28.6 pts 29.7% 41.7% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,350 ±$420 $1,416 $1,564 –
Owner-occupied homes 85.8% ±7.6 pts 80.0% 70.0% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 14.2% ±7.6 pts 20.0% 30.0% –
Housing units 383 ±54 19,862 956,964 −114
Homeowner vacancy rate 1.4% ±2.0 pts 0.9% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±49.5 pts 5.2% 5.9% –
Single-family detached homes 54.6% ±7.3 pts 59.2% 64.5% –
Mobile homes 43.6% ±6.9 pts 35.9% 15.5% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±10.5 pts 1.1% 1.4% –
Built 2010 to 2019 5.2% ±3.9 pts 5.3% 8.4% –
Built 1939 or earlier 6.3% ±3.7 pts 6.0% 4.4% –
Households with no vehicle 4.8% ±4.2 pts 3.8% 5.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Chamita work and get to work?

82.5% of Chamita's workers drive alone and 16.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure ChamitaRio Arriba CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 56.2% ±7.7 pts 53.1% 57.8% –
Unemployment rate 7.7% ±4.8 pts 4.9% 6.0% –
Drove alone to work 82.5% ±7.1 pts 77.1% 73.6% –
Carpooled 0.0% ±11.5 pts 9.0% 9.9% –
Public transportation 1.1% ±1.6 pts 0.6% 0.6% –
Walked 0.0% ±11.5 pts 2.8% 1.9% –
Worked from home 16.3% ±6.8 pts 10.2% 12.2% –
Mean travel time to work 24.2 min ±3.5 30.1 min 23.5 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Chamita?

No census tract lies mostly in Chamita; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Chamita, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Chamita
Tract 9441Rio Arriba County6,434 $55,000 $232,70011%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Chamita) · Census block assignment files

How does Chamita compare with other places in New Mexico?

Chamita ranks 47th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Chamita's rank in New Mexico (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population (ACS 2020-2024)149th153
Residents per square mile109th155
Median household income47th143
Per capita income67th154
Median home value60th138
Median gross rent56th114
Poverty rate68th109
Bachelor's degree or higher111th128
Median age82nd154
Owner-occupied share50th150
Work from home30th78
Travel time to work73rd150

Chamita's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)

Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare Chamita with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Chamita?

15 of the 57 figures for Chamita on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Chamita are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.