City · New Mexico
Española, New Mexico
Española, city, mostly in Rio Arriba County (67.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Española had 10,458 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 10,526 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 10,473 (±48). GEOID 3525170.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
10,458
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 10,526 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,473 ±48
Median household income
$47,667
±$6,887 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059
Median home value
$210,800
±$9,912 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100
Median gross rent
$829
±$88 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067
Where is Española and what county is it in?
Española is a city mostly in Rio Arriba County (67.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. It covers 8.2 square miles of land, 1,280 residents per square mile in 2020.
Española is in the Española, NM micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Arriba County | 7,137 | 67.8% |
| Santa Fe County | 3,389 | 32.2% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Española, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 10,458 people lived in Española on July 1, 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, while New Mexico grew 0.4%. The 2020 Census counted 10,526 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 10,473 (±48).
| Measure | Española | Rio Arriba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,473 ±48 | 40,070 | +371 |
| Households | 4,132 ±266 | 15,647 | +517 |
| Average household size | 2.52 ±0.16 | 2.54 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 4,823 ±258 | 19,862 | no clear change |
Española's population since 2000
From 9,688 in 2000 to 10,458 in 2025: up 7.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Española as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Española?
The median resident of Española is 35.7 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 81.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 10.5%. 14.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Española | Rio Arriba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 ±2.1 | 42.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±2.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±2.5 pts | 21.8% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±1.9 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 81.6% ±2.8 pts | 67.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 10.5% ±1.7 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±1.3 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.2% ±2.6 pts | 6.3% | +6.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 58.6% ±4.2 pts | 51.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.6% ±0.8 pts | 5.6% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±2.1 pts | 15.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.0% ±2.3 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.5% ±3.9 pts | 87.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.3% ±3.0 pts | 19.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.4% ±1.6 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.9% ±1.4 pts | 95.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
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 Española earn?
Half of Española's 4,132 households earn less than $47,667 a year (±$6,887), against $57,155 in Rio Arriba County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $42,296 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Española | Rio Arriba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,667 ±$6,887 | $57,155 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,287 ±$4,083 | $76,460 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,745 ±$1,754 | $31,887 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.4% ±2.6 pts | 18.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.9% ±6.0 pts | 27.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.5% ±3.5 pts | 18.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 76.0% ±4.4 pts | 82.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 71.8% ±4.7 pts | 75.3% | – |
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 Española?
Owners occupy 65.2% of Española's occupied homes and renters 34.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $210,800 by its owner (±$9,912). The median renter pays $829 a month including utilities, and 36.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Española | Rio Arriba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $210,800 ±$9,912 | $243,700 | +$13,766 |
| Median gross rent | $829 ±$88 | $740 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.9% ±6.3 pts | 29.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,394 ±$130 | $1,416 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.2% ±3.8 pts | 80.0% | +6.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.8% ±3.8 pts | 20.0% | – |
| Housing units | 4,823 ±258 | 19,862 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.9% ±2.8 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 48.1% ±3.5 pts | 59.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 36.4% ±3.2 pts | 35.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.2% ±2.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
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 Española work and get to work?
86.0% of Española's workers drive alone and 5.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Española | Rio Arriba County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.6% ±3.1 pts | 53.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±1.9 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 86.0% ±4.1 pts | 77.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3% ±3.4 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.8% ±1.6 pts | 10.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.8 min ±1.9 | 30.1 min | +5.5 min |
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 Española?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Española, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $44,661 (Tract 9407) to $46,316 (Tract 9409).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9407Rio Arriba County | 3,164 | $44,661 |
| Tract 9409Santa Fe County | 3,285 | $46,316 |
| Tract 9441Rio Arriba County | 6,434 | $55,000 |
| Tract 2Rio Arriba County | 3,521 | $70,625 |
| Tract 3.01Rio Arriba County | 3,219 | $59,383 |
| Tract 101.02Santa Fe County | 4,368 | $68,949 |
| Tract 9408Rio Arriba County | 5,260 | $70,000 |
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 Española) · Census block assignment files
How does Española compare with other places in New Mexico?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Española is the 3,111th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 19th-most populous of 105 in New Mexico.
Española ranks 98th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 19th | 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 31st | 61 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th | 155 |
| Median household income | 98th | 143 |
| Per capita income | 89th | 154 |
| Median home value | 64th | 138 |
| Median gross rent | 77th | 114 |
| Poverty rate | 65th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 82nd | 128 |
| Median age | 104th | 154 |
| Owner-occupied share | 122nd | 150 |
| Work from home | 68th | 78 |
| Travel time to work | 29th | 150 |
Española's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)
Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare Española 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 Española?
5 of the 57 figures for Española 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 Española 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' public schools in Española.