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Counties with the most seniors in New Mexico
Seniors will comprise more than 20% of U.S. residents in 2030, up from 15% in 2020. By 2034, older adults will outnumber children, according to Census Bureau projections.
Across the U.S., 52 million Americans are 65 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a quarter of them live in just three states: California, Florida, and Texas. By comparison, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska each have fewer than 150,000 senior residents. The size of a state's senior population means a lot in terms of demand for resources like health care, affordable housing, assisted living, in-home and nursing care, and support services, and the quality and availability of those resources help determine where seniors migrate.
With baby boomers moving into old age, fewer babies being born, and longer life expectancies, the senior population of America is on a spectacular rise. The lengthening of the U.S. life expectancy has been particularly dramatic, rising to nearly 79 years from 68 years in 1950.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most seniors in New Mexico using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents 65 years or older according to 2020 5-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out which counties have the most seniors in New Mexico.
#33. Lea County
- Population aged 65 or older: 11.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 30.2%
- Median age: 32 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 32.8 years old
- Total population: 70,359 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 30.2%
- Median age: 32 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 32.8 years old
- Total population: 70,359 people
#32. McKinley County
- Population aged 65 or older: 12.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 28.7%
- Median age: 32.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 34.4 years old
- Total population: 71,956 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 28.7%
- Median age: 32.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 34.4 years old
- Total population: 71,956 people
#31. Curry County
- Population aged 65 or older: 12.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 31.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 30 years old
--- Median age of females: 33.3 years old
- Total population: 49,502 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 31.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 30 years old
--- Median age of females: 33.3 years old
- Total population: 49,502 people
#30. Roosevelt County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.0%
- Median age: 30.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 28.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 32.2 years old
- Total population: 18,723 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.0%
- Median age: 30.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 28.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 32.2 years old
- Total population: 18,723 people
#29. Eddy County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 35.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 36.1 years old
- Total population: 57,865 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 35.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 36.1 years old
- Total population: 57,865 people
#28. De Baca County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 42.7%
- Median age: 22.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 17.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 28.9 years old
- Total population: 1,995 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 42.7%
- Median age: 22.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 17.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 28.9 years old
- Total population: 1,995 people
#27. San Juan County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.5%
- Median age: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 35 years old
--- Median age of females: 36.9 years old
- Total population: 125,608 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.5%
- Median age: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 35 years old
--- Median age of females: 36.9 years old
- Total population: 125,608 people
#26. Doña Ana County
- Population aged 65 or older: 15.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.6%
- Median age: 33.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 34.7 years old
- Total population: 217,696 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.6%
- Median age: 33.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 31.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 34.7 years old
- Total population: 217,696 people
#25. Chaves County
- Population aged 65 or older: 15.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 33.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.6 years old
- Total population: 64,912 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.4%
- Median age: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 33.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.6 years old
- Total population: 64,912 people
#24. Bernalillo County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 38 years old
--- Median age of males: 36.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.4 years old
- Total population: 679,037 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 38 years old
--- Median age of males: 36.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.4 years old
- Total population: 679,037 people
#23. Cibola County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.4%
- Median age: 37.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.7 years old
- Total population: 26,763 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.4%
- Median age: 37.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 36.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.7 years old
- Total population: 26,763 people
#22. Otero County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 36.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.7 years old
- Total population: 66,804 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 36.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.7 years old
- Total population: 66,804 people
#21. Los Alamos County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.7 years old
- Total population: 18,976 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.7 years old
- Total population: 18,976 people
#20. Valencia County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.4%
- Median age: 38.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.2 years old
- Total population: 76,518 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.4%
- Median age: 38.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.2 years old
- Total population: 76,518 people
#19. Sandoval County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 39 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.4 years old
- Total population: 144,954 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 39 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.4 years old
- Total population: 144,954 people
#18. Rio Arriba County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 41.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.4 years old
- Total population: 38,962 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 41.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.4 years old
- Total population: 38,962 people
#17. Socorro County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 41 years old
- Total population: 16,723 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 41 years old
- Total population: 16,723 people
#16. Luna County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.3%
- Median age: 37.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 35.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.1 years old
- Total population: 24,022 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 26.3%
- Median age: 37.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 35.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.1 years old
- Total population: 24,022 people
#15. Torrance County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 15,477 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 15,477 people
#14. Guadalupe County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.5%
- Median age: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.4 years old
- Total population: 4,336 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.5%
- Median age: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.4 years old
- Total population: 4,336 people
#13. Union County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 38.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.5 years old
- Total population: 4,106 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 38.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.5 years old
- Total population: 4,106 people
#12. San Miguel County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.5%
- Median age: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 27,546 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.5%
- Median age: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 27,546 people
#11. Hidalgo County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.8 years old
- Total population: 4,234 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.8 years old
- Total population: 4,234 people
#10. Santa Fe County
- Population aged 65 or older: 24.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.0%
- Median age: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.5 years old
- Total population: 150,319 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.0%
- Median age: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.5 years old
- Total population: 150,319 people
#9. Quay County
- Population aged 65 or older: 24.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.7%
- Median age: 43 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.8 years old
- Total population: 8,265 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.7%
- Median age: 43 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.8 years old
- Total population: 8,265 people
#8. Taos County
- Population aged 65 or older: 26.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.6%
- Median age: 48.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.1 years old
- Total population: 32,759 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.6%
- Median age: 48.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.1 years old
- Total population: 32,759 people
#7. Grant County
- Population aged 65 or older: 27.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.7%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 45 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 27,391 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.7%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 45 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 27,391 people
#6. Colfax County
- Population aged 65 or older: 27.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.1%
- Median age: 50.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 47 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.6 years old
- Total population: 12,106 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.1%
- Median age: 50.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 47 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.6 years old
- Total population: 12,106 people
#5. Lincoln County
- Population aged 65 or older: 28.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.6%
- Median age: 51.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.2 years old
- Total population: 19,640 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.6%
- Median age: 51.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.2 years old
- Total population: 19,640 people
#4. Harding County
- Population aged 65 or older: 29.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 13.7%
- Median age: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 33.8 years old
- Total population: 432 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 13.7%
- Median age: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 50.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 33.8 years old
- Total population: 432 people
#3. Mora County
- Population aged 65 or older: 31%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 13.1%
- Median age: 56.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.4 years old
- Total population: 4,500 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 13.1%
- Median age: 56.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.4 years old
- Total population: 4,500 people
#2. Sierra County
- Population aged 65 or older: 36.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.7%
- Median age: 55.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.1 years old
- Total population: 10,988 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.7%
- Median age: 55.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 55.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.1 years old
- Total population: 10,988 people
#1. Catron County
- Population aged 65 or older: 41.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 14.4%
- Median age: 59.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 64.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.7 years old
- Total population: 3,547 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 14.4%
- Median age: 59.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 64.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.7 years old
- Total population: 3,547 people
