County · New Mexico
Quay County, New Mexico
Quay County, New Mexico. Quay County had 8,454 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.3% since 2020, while New Mexico grew 0.4%. It holds 5 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 35037.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,454
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,746 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,564
Median household income
$41,946
±$14,822 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059
Median home value
$87,200
±$16,034 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100
Median gross rent
$712
±$150 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067
How many people live in Quay County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,746 residents in Quay County. The Census Bureau estimates 8,454 for July 1, 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, while New Mexico grew 0.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,564 over 2,874 square miles of land.
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,564 | 2,120,246 | +238 |
| Households | 4,389±240 | 837,414 | +1,349 |
| Average household size | 1.93±0.11 | 2.48 | −0.78 |
| Housing units | 5,536±29 | 956,964 | −154 |
Quay County's population since 2000
From 10,155 in 2000 to 8,454 in 2025: down 16.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Quay County?
Quay County holds 5 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Tucumcari with 5,082 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Quay County?
The median resident of Quay County is 48.9 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 26.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 47.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 44.9%.
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9±0.9 | 39.4 | +5.5 |
| Under 18 years | 19.6%±0.3 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.4%±0.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 44.9% | 48.4% | −0.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 47.9%±1.2 pts | 36.0% | −1.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3%±1.2 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 17.2%±3.3 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.2%±2.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 24.1%±3.5 pts | 17.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.0%±2.5 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1%±2.2 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.6%±4.1 pts | 31.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.8%±3.4 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.1%±1.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Quay County earn?
Half of Quay County's 4,389 households earn less than $41,946 a year (±$14,822), against $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $35,733 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,946±$14,822 | $64,059 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $62,487±$10,072 | $88,155 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,573±$4,536 | $36,218 | +$7,225 |
| People below the poverty line | 27.1%±5.1 pts | 17.8% | +6.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.5%±13.2 pts | 24.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 30.5%±5.6 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 76.4%±4.6 pts | 86.5% | – |
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 Quay County?
Owners occupy 71.6% of Quay County's occupied homes and renters 28.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $87,200 by its owner (±$16,034). The median renter pays $712 a month including utilities, and 39.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $87,200±$16,034 | $248,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $712±$150 | $1,067 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.5%±15.3 pts | 41.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $943±$396 | $1,564 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.6%±6.3 pts | 70.0% | +10.1 pts |
| Housing units | 5,536±29 | 956,964 | −154 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7%±1.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.1%±2.8 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.4%±4.9 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 22.1%±3.7 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.0%±3.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
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 Quay County get to work?
80.2% of Quay County's workers drive alone and 6.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 11.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.4%.
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.5%±4.7 pts | 57.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4%±4.6 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.2%±4.6 pts | 73.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2%±3.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 4.9%±3.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.4%±2.9 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 11.4 min±1.8 | 23.5 min | −3.9 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 are Quay County's census tracts?
Quay County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $38,462 (Tract 9589) to $50,674 (Tract 9586.01).
| Tract 9586.0135037958601 | 2,775±352 | $50,674 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9586.0235037958602 | 3,400±438 | $38,798 |
| Tract 958935037958900 | 2,389±334 | $38,462 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Quay County compare with New Mexico's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 26th of 33 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 25th of 33 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th of 33 |
| Median household income | 29th of 32 |
| Median home value | 30th of 32 |
| Median gross rent | 27th of 31 |
| Poverty rate | 5th of 33 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18th of 33 |
| Median age | 8th of 33 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Quay County 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' school search.