City · New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, city, in Quay County, New Mexico. Tucumcari had 5,082 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,278 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,160 (±15). GEOID 3579910.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,082
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,278 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,160 ±15
Median household income
$31,844
±$10,988 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059
Median home value
$64,100
±$6,474 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100
Median gross rent
$704
±$154 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067
Where is Tucumcari and what county is it in?
Tucumcari is a city in Quay County, New Mexico. It covers 9.5 square miles of land, 555 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Tucumcari, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,082 people lived in Tucumcari on July 1, 2025, down 3.8% since 2020, while New Mexico grew 0.4%. The 2020 Census counted 5,278 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,160 (±15).
| Measure | Tucumcari | Quay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,160 ±15 | 8,564 | +241 |
| Households | 2,720 ±210 | 4,389 | +1,066 |
| Average household size | 1.87 ±0.15 | 1.93 | −1.05 |
| Housing units | 3,203 ±154 | 5,536 | +596 |
Tucumcari's population since 2000
From 5,989 in 2000 to 5,082 in 2025: down 15.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Tucumcari as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Tucumcari?
The median resident of Tucumcari is 44.7 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 62.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 33.4%.
| Measure | Tucumcari | Quay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 ±6.1 | 48.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.4% ±2.3 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.7% ±3.2 pts | 26.4% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±3.8 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 62.3% ±3.6 pts | 44.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 33.4% ±4.3 pts | 47.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±2.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.5% ±4.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.5% ±4.2 pts | 11.2% | – |
| With a disability | 24.8% ±4.4 pts | 24.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2% ±3.3 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.1% ±3.5 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.5% ±5.7 pts | 19.6% | +6.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.2% ±4.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.4% ±5.0 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±1.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Tucumcari earn?
Half of Tucumcari's 2,720 households earn less than $31,844 a year (±$10,988), against $41,946 in Quay County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $32,034 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 34.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tucumcari | Quay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $31,844 ±$10,988 | $41,946 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $56,192 ±$12,151 | $62,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,999 ±$5,438 | $31,573 | +$9,461 |
| People below the poverty line | 34.3% ±8.0 pts | 27.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.2% ±19.0 pts | 31.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 40.7% ±7.9 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.5% ±4.5 pts | 92.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 73.5% ±6.7 pts | 76.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Tucumcari?
Owners occupy 68.6% of Tucumcari's occupied homes and renters 31.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $64,100 by its owner (±$6,474). The median renter pays $704 a month including utilities, and 39.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tucumcari | Quay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $64,100 ±$6,474 | $87,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $704 ±$154 | $712 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.7% ±15.6 pts | 39.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $868 ±$28 | $943 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.6% ±8.2 pts | 71.6% | +19.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 31.4% ±8.2 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Housing units | 3,203 ±154 | 5,536 | +596 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±3.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.8% ±7.2 pts | 67.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% ±3.2 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.5% ±5.4 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.8% ±6.9 pts | 11.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Tucumcari work and get to work?
83.6% of Tucumcari's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 8.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.2%.
| Measure | Tucumcari | Quay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.5% ±6.4 pts | 55.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.2% ±7.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.6% ±6.0 pts | 80.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.9% ±4.4 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 3.3% ±3.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.9% ±2.9 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 8.2 min ±2.2 | 11.4 min | −5.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Tucumcari?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Tucumcari, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $38,798 (Tract 9586.02) to $50,674 (Tract 9586.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9586.02Quay County | 3,400 | $38,798 |
| Tract 9586.01Quay County | 2,775 | $50,674 |
| Tract 9589Quay County | 2,389 | $38,462 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Tucumcari) · Census block assignment files
How does Tucumcari compare with other places in New Mexico?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Tucumcari is the 4,845th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 35th-most populous of 105 in New Mexico.
Tucumcari ranks 136th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 35th | 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 55th | 61 |
| Residents per square mile | 69th | 155 |
| Median household income | 136th | 143 |
| Per capita income | 83rd | 154 |
| Median home value | 132nd | 138 |
| Median gross rent | 96th | 114 |
| Poverty rate | 14th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81st | 128 |
| Median age | 57th | 154 |
| Owner-occupied share | 106th | 150 |
| Travel time to work | 148th | 150 |
Tucumcari's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)
Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare Tucumcari with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Tucumcari?
15 of the 57 figures for Tucumcari on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Tucumcari are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Tucumcari.