City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Vaughn, NM

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

548
Residents
$26,300
Median income
$45,800
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Vaughn - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Vaughn lands in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
0th
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: Vaughn, NM

548 people live in Vaughn, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $26,300 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 43.3%. Home values in Vaughn run a median of $45,800, and the median resident age is 35.3 years. Educational attainment runs 4.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Mexico scores 92.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. 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). Natural-hazard exposure scores 8.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

548 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$26,300 /yr

Poverty 43.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Vaughn compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 0% 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 Vaughn'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.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Vaughn's home value compares nationally

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

$45,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Vaughn $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 - Vaughn, NM Vaughn, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vaughn, 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 Vaughn, NM median $26,300/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%
Vaughn, 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 Vaughn, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 43.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.8%

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

Population
548
Median Income
$26,300
Median Home Value
$45,800
Median Age
35.3
Poverty Rate
43.3%
Labor force participation
61.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
265 residents270 residents275 residents280 residents285 residents 202020212022202320242025 280 residents 272 residents ▼ -2.9%
Vaughn's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.5%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.9%
Work from Home
3.7%
Other
13.3%

Based on 218 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 Vaughn 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
8.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

La Mesa
548 people
Rowe
555 people
Glorieta
559 people
Melrose
536 people
Pueblitos
534 people
East Pecos
529 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vaughn's 548 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Millry, AL
548 people
Golf, IL
548 people
St. David, IL
548 people
Richland, IN
548 people
Burden, KS
548 people
Deep Run, NC
548 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vaughn's $26,300 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

East Gaffney, SC
$26,314 median income
Sabana Hoyos comunidad, PR
$26,272 median income
Mosses, AL
$26,250 median income
Calico Rock, AR
$26,250 median income
Sunset, AR
$26,250 median income
Simmesport, LA
$26,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vaughn, 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 Vaughn, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 31.2% 31.9% 33.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 91.4% White 31.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 31.9% Two or more races 33.9% 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 Vaughn 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
Vaughn (this city) 548 $26,300
La Mesa 548 $40,694
Rowe 555 N/A
Glorieta 559 $48,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vaughn, NM?

What is the population of Vaughn, NM? +

The population of Vaughn, NM stands at 548 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Vaughn runs $26,300, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vaughn? +

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

Homes in Vaughn carry a median value of $45,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.