City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Sandia Heights, NM

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

3,083
Residents
$151,538
Median income
$623,500
Median home
$1,464
Median rent (state)

Sandia Heights - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sandia Heights lands in the 94th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

94th
percentile, household income
90th
percentile, home value
57th
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: Sandia Heights, NM

Sandia Heights is a small town in New Mexico, home to 3,083 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Sandia Heights households earn a median of $151,538 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.7%. Home values in Sandia Heights run a median of $623,500, and the median resident age is 62.5 years. Educational attainment runs 72.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 42.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: the state registers 92.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,464 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Mexico run around $167, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 94.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

3,083 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$151,538 /yr

Poverty 0.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Sandia Heights compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 94% higher than other cities
Home value 90% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% 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 Sandia Heights 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

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Sandia Heights's strongest outlier among New Mexico cities

Among the 409 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Sandia Heights ranks #13 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sandia Heights only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#14 of 324
96th percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#77 of 409
64th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#17 of 324
95th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#307 of 408
25th percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#13 of 409
97th 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.

94thIncome percentile

94th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sandia Heights's home value compares nationally

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

$623,500 10th percentile more affordable than 10% 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%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Sandia Heights $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 - Sandia Heights, NM Sandia Heights, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sandia Heights, 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 Sandia Heights, NM median $151,538/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%
Sandia Heights, 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 Sandia Heights, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 72.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.7%

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

Population
3,083
Median Income
$151,538
Median Home Value
$623,500
Median Age
62.5
Poverty Rate
0.7%
Labor force participation
42.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
72.2%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.2%
Carpool
3.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
31.5%
Other
1.6%

Based on 1,151 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 Sandia Heights sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,464/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

El Cerro
3,093 people
Eunice
2,989 people
Vado
3,185 people
Crownpoint
2,924 people
Cannon AFB
2,876 people
Agua Fria
2,842 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandia Heights's 3,083 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ashland, NE
3,083 people
Tuxedo, NY
3,083 people
Shady Cove, OR
3,083 people
Mount Hope, NJ
3,082 people
Golden Grove, SC
3,084 people
Somerset, WI
3,084 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandia Heights's $151,538 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tonka Bay, MN
$151,563 median income
Bellewood, KY
$151,500 median income
Brisbane, CA
$151,593 median income
McMurray, PA
$151,478 median income
Rafter J Ranch, WY
$151,429 median income
Gambrills, MD
$151,667 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sandia Heights, 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 Sandia Heights, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.3% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.0% White 79.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 4.4% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.6% Two or more races 10.0% 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 Sandia Heights 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
Sandia Heights (this city) 3,083 $151,538
El Cerro 3,093 $112,174
Eunice 2,989 $49,795
Vado 3,185 $29,844
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sandia Heights, NM?

What is the population of Sandia Heights, NM? +

The population of Sandia Heights, NM stands at 3,083 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sandia Heights, NM? +

Sandia Heights households earn a median of $151,538 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sandia Heights? +

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

Sandia Heights's median home value sits at $623,500, 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.