Poverty and living standards in Las Cruces, New Mexico: official figures
22.6% of residents of Las Cruces (25,539 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 83rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; New Mexico: 17.8%).
How many children live in poverty in Las Cruces?
26.3% of children under 18 in Las Cruces lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (6,614 children), 118th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; New Mexico: 24.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Las Cruces?
By age, the poverty rate in Las Cruces was 32.3% for children under 6 and 16.2% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Las Cruces live in deep poverty?
12,216 people in Las Cruces, 10.8% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 88th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Las Cruces are cost-burdened?
57.0% of renting households in Las Cruces spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (10,943 households), 241st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; New Mexico: 50.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Las Cruces spend half their income on rent?
30.7% of renting households in Las Cruces spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 200th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Las Cruces are food insecure?
An estimated 23.5% of adults in Las Cruces experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 139th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 19.1% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Las Cruces compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Las Cruces ranks 83 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Jonesboro | 22.8% |
| 81 | Milwaukee | 22.8% |
| 82 | Chico | 22.7% |
| 83 | Las Cruces | 22.6% |
| 84 | New Orleans | 22.6% |
| 85 | Logan | 22.3% |
| 86 | Jackson | 22.2% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Las Cruces ranks 118 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | El Cajon | 26.5% |
| 116 | Mishawaka | 26.5% |
| 117 | Trenton | 26.3% |
| 118 | Las Cruces | 26.3% |
| 119 | Hammond | 26.2% |
| 120 | Perth Amboy | 26.2% |
| 121 | Elyria | 26.1% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Las Cruces ranks 88 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Merced | 10.9% |
| 86 | Peoria | 10.9% |
| 87 | Lawrence | 10.8% |
| 88 | Las Cruces | 10.8% |
| 89 | Baltimore | 10.8% |
| 90 | Daytona Beach | 10.7% |
| 91 | Decatur | 10.7% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Las Cruces ranks 241 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 238 | Chesapeake | 57.0% |
| 239 | Suffolk | 57.0% |
| 240 | Norwalk | 57.0% |
| 241 | Las Cruces | 57.0% |
| 242 | Champaign | 57.0% |
| 243 | West Covina | 57.0% |
| 244 | Medford | 57.0% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Las Cruces ranks 139 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | Norwalk | 23.6% |
| 137 | Portsmouth | 23.6% |
| 138 | Decatur | 23.6% |
| 139 | Las Cruces | 23.5% |
| 140 | Fort Smith | 23.5% |
| 141 | Berwyn | 23.5% |
| 142 | West Valley City | 23.4% |
More on Las Cruces: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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