City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

South Valley, NM

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

36,605
Residents
$51,062
Median income
$205,200
Median home
$1,464
Median rent (state)

South Valley - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, South Valley lands in the 21st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

21st
percentile, household income
44th
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: South Valley, NM

South Valley is a small city in New Mexico, home to 36,605 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. South Valley households earn a median of $51,062 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.8%. Home values in South Valley run a median of $205,200, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. Educational attainment runs 14.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $1,464 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Mexico's average monthly utility costs around $167 (state average). Commute times here average 24.3 minutes, with 77.9% driving alone and 7.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 94.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

36,605 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$51,062 /yr

Poverty 15.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does South Valley compare to other US cities?

Where South Valley sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 21% higher than other cities
Home value 44% 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 South Valley 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 Valley ranks #77 - the 64th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Valley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#187 of 324
42nd percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#77 of 409
64th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#142 of 324
56th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#171 of 408
58th percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#227 of 409
44th 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.

21stIncome percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How South Valley's home value compares nationally

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

$205,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% 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 Valley $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 Valley, NM South Valley, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Valley, 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 Valley, NM median $51,062/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 Valley, 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 Valley, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.8%

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

Population
36,605
Median Income
$51,062
Median Home Value
$205,200
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Labor force participation
51.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.3 minutes
Drive Alone
77.9%
Carpool
12.7%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
7.0%
Other
1.2%

Based on 15,083 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 Valley 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

Clovis
38,153 people
Hobbs
39,887 people
Carlsbad
31,813 people
Alamogordo
31,063 people
Farmington
46,339 people
Roswell
47,823 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Valley's 36,605 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Brighton, NY
36,633 people
Kiryas Joel, NY
36,572 people
Manchester, CT
36,561 people
Hilliard, OH
36,560 people
Beloit, WI
36,554 people
Claremont, CA
36,553 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Valley's $51,062 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lakeview, OH
$51,065 median income
Big Stone Gap, VA
$51,059 median income
Salisbury, NC
$51,058 median income
Kulpmont, PA
$51,066 median income
Mesquite Creek, AZ
$51,071 median income
Schram City, IL
$51,071 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Valley, 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 Valley, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.9% 22.9% 34.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 80.8% White 38.9% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.2% American Indian 2.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 22.9% Two or more races 34.4% 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 Valley 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 Valley (this city) 36,605 $51,062
Clovis 38,153 $54,029
Hobbs 39,887 $65,691
Carlsbad 31,813 $78,277
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Valley, NM?

What is the population of South Valley, NM? +

The population of South Valley, NM stands at 36,605 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

South Valley households earn a median of $51,062 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Valley? +

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

The median home value in South Valley is $205,200, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.