City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

La Cienega, NM

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

3,780
Residents
$68,676
Median income
$417,900
Median home
$1,685
Median rent (state)

La Cienega - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, La Cienega places in the 48th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

48th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
67th
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: La Cienega, NM

3,780 people live in La Cienega, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. La Cienega households earn a median of $68,676 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.7%. Typical homes in La Cienega are valued around $417,900, and the median resident age is 38.0 years. About 23.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,685 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $167 across New Mexico, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 86.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

3,780 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$68,676 /yr

Poverty 5.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does La Cienega compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% 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 La Cienega 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 Home Value places La Cienega toward the top of New Mexico's cities

Among the 324 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, La Cienega ranks #36 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares La Cienega only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#108 of 324
67th percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#41 of 409
81st percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#36 of 324
89th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#273 of 408
33rd percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#145 of 409
65th 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.

48thIncome percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How La Cienega's home value compares nationally

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

$417,900 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. La Cienega $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 - La Cienega, NM La Cienega, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not La Cienega, 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 La Cienega, NM median $68,676/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%
La Cienega, 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 La Cienega, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.3%

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

Population
3,780
Median Income
$68,676
Median Home Value
$417,900
Median Age
38.0
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Labor force participation
65.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.5%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
12.9%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
8.6%
Other
5.0%

Based on 1,962 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 La Cienega sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,685/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
86.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Meadow Lake
3,959 people
Bosque Farms
4,042 people
Holloman AFB
4,052 people
Kirtland AFB
3,421 people
Peralta
3,385 people
Placitas CDP (Sandoval County)
4,375 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to La Cienega's 3,780 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rochester, WI
3,780 people
Morrison, IL
3,781 people
Ajo, AZ
3,783 people
Jamestown, CA
3,777 people
Hudson, NC
3,777 people
Maiden, NC
3,777 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to La Cienega's $68,676 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Beale AFB, CA
$68,676 median income
Mount Ayr, IA
$68,676 median income
Cody, WY
$68,676 median income
Landover, MD
$68,679 median income
Faulkton, SD
$68,672 median income
Rockport, AR
$68,681 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - La Cienega, 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 La Cienega, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 42.4% 18.6% 32.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 78.5% White 42.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 4.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 18.6% Two or more races 32.7% 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 La Cienega 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
La Cienega (this city) 3,780 $68,676
Meadow Lake 3,959 $38,872
Bosque Farms 4,042 $63,889
Holloman AFB 4,052 $51,205
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about La Cienega, NM?

What is the population of La Cienega, NM? +

La Cienega, NM counts 3,780 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in La Cienega, NM? +

The median household income in La Cienega is $68,676 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in La Cienega? +

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

A typical home in La Cienega is worth $417,900, 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.