City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

South River, NM

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

1,594
Residents
$56,307
Median income
$215,000
Median home
$1,085
Median rent (state)

South River - the verdict

Nationally, South River sits in the 29th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

29th
percentile, household income
47th
percentile, home value
27th
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: South River, NM

1,594 people live in South River, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. South River households earn a median of $56,307 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.5%. Typical homes in South River are valued around $215,000, and the median resident age is 56.5 years. About 21.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.1% 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,085 per month. 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 88.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

1,594 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$56,307 /yr

Poverty 11.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does South River compare to other US cities?

Here's how South River stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 47% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% 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 South River 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 Gross Rent sits close to the middle of New Mexico's city distribution

Among the 409 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, South River ranks #224 - the 37th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South River only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#156 of 324
52nd percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#224 of 409
37th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#128 of 324
60th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#210 of 408
48th percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#165 of 409
60th 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.

29thIncome percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How South River's home value compares nationally

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

$215,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 53% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. South River $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 - South River, NM South River, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South River, 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 South River, NM median $56,307/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%
South River, 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 South River, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.1%

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

Population
1,594
Median Income
$56,307
Median Home Value
$215,000
Median Age
56.5
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Labor force participation
50.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
94.7%
Carpool
0.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
4.0%

Based on 645 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 South River sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,085/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Barton
1,601 people
Elephant Butte
1,586 people
El Valle de Arroyo Seco
1,602 people
Gamerco
1,583 people
Tano Road
1,581 people
White Sands
1,577 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South River's 1,594 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Newcastle, CA
1,594 people
Walnut Grove, GA
1,594 people
De Pue, IL
1,594 people
Chatham, NY
1,594 people
Langston, OK
1,594 people
Clarks Green, PA
1,594 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South River's $56,307 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sioux Rapids, IA
$56,307 median income
Harmony, NJ
$56,307 median income
Lake Station, IN
$56,306 median income
Paulding, OH
$56,308 median income
Hastings, MI
$56,309 median income
Honea Path, SC
$56,304 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South River, 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 South River, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.3% 10.5% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.7% White 73.3% Black or African American 10.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 9.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 3.3% 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 South River 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
South River (this city) 1,594 $56,307
Barton 1,601 $83,849
Elephant Butte 1,586 $45,179
El Valle de Arroyo Seco 1,602 $69,556
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South River, NM?

What is the population of South River, NM? +

South River, NM counts 1,594 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South River, NM? +

South River households earn a median of $56,307 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South River? +

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

South River's median home value sits at $215,000, 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.