City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Elephant Butte, NM

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Elephant Butte - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,586
Residents
$45,179
Median income
$166,800
Median home
$1,004
Median rent (state)

Elephant Butte - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Elephant Butte lands in the 13th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

13th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
20th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Elephant Butte, NM

1,586 people live in Elephant Butte, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $45,179 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.2%. Elephant Butte's housing stock carries a median value of $166,800, and the median resident age is 66.1 years. Educational attainment runs 19.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 32.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Mexico at 92.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,004 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $167 across New Mexico, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 55.8 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

1,586 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$45,179 /yr

Poverty 3.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Elephant Butte compare to other US cities?

Elephant Butte measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Elephant Butte against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Mexico only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Mexico-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Elephant Butte toward the bottom of New Mexico's cities

Among the 409 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Elephant Butte ranks #319 - the 20th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Elephant Butte only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#215 of 324
34th percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#319 of 409
20th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#178 of 324
45th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#296 of 408
27th percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#185 of 409
54th percentile in New Mexico

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Mexico only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

13thIncome percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elephant Butte's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$166,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Elephant Butte $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Elephant Butte, NM Elephant Butte, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elephant Butte, NM-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Elephant Butte, NM median $45,179/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Elephant Butte, NM's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Elephant Butte, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,586
Median Income
$45,179
Median Home Value
$166,800
Median Age
66.1
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Labor force participation
32.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,450 residents1,455 residents1,460 residents1,465 residents1,470 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,455 residents 1,456 residents ▲ +0.1%
Elephant Butte's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.6%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.8%
Other
6.6%

Based on 475 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Mexico - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$167
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Mexico state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Mexico state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elephant Butte sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,004/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
55.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Gamerco
1,583 people
Tano Road
1,581 people
South River
1,594 people
White Sands
1,577 people
Barton
1,601 people
El Valle de Arroyo Seco
1,602 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elephant Butte's 1,586 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Shaw, MS
1,586 people
Bellwood, PA
1,586 people
Langhorne Manor, PA
1,586 people
Palmer comunidad, PR
1,586 people
Ford Heights, IL
1,587 people
Smith Center, KS
1,585 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elephant Butte's $45,179 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Woodbine, NJ
$45,179 median income
Blanchester, OH
$45,179 median income
Jamestown, PA
$45,179 median income
Mayesville, SC
$45,179 median income
Midway, PA
$45,189 median income
Minorca, LA
$45,192 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elephant Butte, NM Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Elephant Butte, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.4% 11.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.3% White 88.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Elephant Butte compares to nearby New Mexico cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Elephant Butte (this city) 1,586 $45,179
Gamerco 1,583 $40,938
Tano Road 1,581 $166,649
South River 1,594 $56,307
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elephant Butte, NM?

What is the population of Elephant Butte, NM? +

1,586 people live in Elephant Butte, NM according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elephant Butte, NM? +

Elephant Butte households earn a median of $45,179 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elephant Butte? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elephant Butte; the closest available measure is the New Mexico state average, a cost of living index of 92.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Mexico vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Elephant Butte, NM? +

The median home value in Elephant Butte is $166,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.