City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Socorro, NM

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

8,540
Residents
$51,343
Median income
$162,400
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Socorro - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Socorro lands in the 22nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

22nd
percentile, household income
31st
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: Socorro, NM

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,540 residents in Socorro, a small town within New Mexico. Median household income here is $51,343 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.3%. Socorro's housing stock carries a median value of $162,400, and the median resident age is 36.4 years. About 28.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Socorro (No Permits), per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 58.2°F with 8.6 inches of precipitation per year.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Mexico's average monthly utility costs around $167 (state average). Workers in Socorro report an average commute of 10.3 minutes, with 70.6% driving alone and 6.9% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 61.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

8,540 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$51,343 /yr

Poverty 15.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Socorro compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 31% 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 Socorro'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.

22ndIncome percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Socorro's home value compares nationally

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

$162,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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. Socorro $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 - Socorro, NM Socorro, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Socorro, 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 Socorro, NM median $51,343/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%
Socorro, 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 Socorro, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.5%

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

Population
8,540
Median Income
$51,343
Median Home Value
$162,400
Median Age
36.4
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Labor force participation
48.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
58.2°F
Annual Precipitation
8.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,200 residents8,400 residents8,600 residents8,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,674 residents 8,261 residents ▼ -4.8%
Socorro's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
10.3 minutes
Drive Alone
70.6%
Carpool
6.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
12.2%
Work from Home
6.9%
Other
3.7%

Based on 3,435 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 Socorro 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
61.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Corrales
8,557 people
Anthony
8,701 people
Shiprock
8,339 people
Bernalillo
9,068 people
Grants
9,106 people
Ruidoso
7,701 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Socorro's 8,540 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Olivette, MO
8,539 people
Closter, NJ
8,544 people
Summit Park, UT
8,545 people
Old Forge, PA
8,533 people
Delavan, WI
8,531 people
Ellsworth, ME
8,550 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Socorro's $51,343 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Earlimart, CA
$51,343 median income
Wapato, WA
$51,341 median income
Jakin, GA
$51,346 median income
Russell, KS
$51,347 median income
Springfield, MA
$51,339 median income
Pennsboro, WV
$51,348 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Socorro, 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 Socorro, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 52.4% 9.5% 29.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 51.4% White 52.4% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 3.3% American Indian 5.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.5% Two or more races 29.2% 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 Socorro 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
Socorro (this city) 8,540 $51,343
Corrales 8,557 $114,207
Anthony 8,701 $33,141
Shiprock 8,339 $41,563
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Socorro, NM?

What is the population of Socorro, NM? +

Socorro, NM has a population of 8,540 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Socorro, NM? +

In Socorro, the typical household earns $51,343 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Socorro? +

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

Socorro's median home value sits at $162,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Socorro? +

Climate normals put Socorro's yearly average temperature at 58.2°F, 8.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.