City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Fort Sumner, NM

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

958
Residents
$154,000
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Fort Sumner - the verdict

New Mexico's Fort Sumner counts 958 residents. Source: Census ACS.

28th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Fort Sumner, NM

958 people live in Fort Sumner, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Home values in Fort Sumner run a median of $154,000, and the median resident age is 27.9 years. 3.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Mexico scores 92.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. 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 4.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

958 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

N/A /yr

Poverty 6.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Fort Sumner compare to other US cities?

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

Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fort Sumner's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Mexico, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

How Fort Sumner's home value compares nationally

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

$154,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% 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. Fort Sumner $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

Median household income is not available for Fort Sumner in the current Census ACS release (common for very small places).

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.8%

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

Population
958
Median Income
N/A
Median Home Value
$154,000
Median Age
27.9
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Labor force participation
57.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.1%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
840 residents850 residents860 residents870 residents880 residents890 residents 202020212022202320242025 877 residents 852 residents ▼ -2.9%
Fort Sumner's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.7%
Carpool
2.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
6.5%

Based on 385 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 Fort Sumner sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
4.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Carrizozo
959 people
El Rito
961 people
Twin Lakes
961 people
Cañoncito
946 people
Skyline-Ganipa
937 people
La Union
917 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Sumner's 958 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Inyokern, CA
958 people
Greenwood, FL
958 people
Ririe, ID
958 people
Elberfeld, IN
958 people
Washburn, ME
958 people
Folly Beach, SC
958 people

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Sumner, 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 Fort Sumner, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 15.7% 66.2% 17.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 85.2% White 15.7% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 66.2% Two or more races 17.9% 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 Fort Sumner 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
Fort Sumner (this city) 958 N/A
Carrizozo 959 $26,121
El Rito 961 $24,611
Twin Lakes 961 $22,917
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Sumner, NM?

What is the population of Fort Sumner, NM? +

The population of Fort Sumner, NM stands at 958 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the cost of living in Fort Sumner? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fort Sumner; 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 Fort Sumner, NM? +

Fort Sumner's median home value sits at $154,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.