Poverty and living standards in New Mexico, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 15.8% of people in New Mexico lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 330,455 people; 5th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in New Mexico gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for New Mexico was 17.5% (358,526 people), so the rate is down 1.7 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in New Mexico?
20.5% of children under 18 in New Mexico were in poverty in 2024, about 90,274 children; 4th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 21.4% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in New Mexico?
The Gini index of household income inequality in New Mexico was 0.4722 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 17th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in New Mexico are cost-burdened?
48.4% of renting households in New Mexico spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 25.7% spent half or more; the 30% share is 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in New Mexico get food stamps?
19.3% of households in New Mexico (165,567) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; the highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 44% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 50% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in New Mexico?
An average of 466,081 people in New Mexico received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 3.3% on fiscal 2024 (451,320), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in New Mexico?
SNAP benefits paid in New Mexico totaled $996.22 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $178.12 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 13th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in New Mexico?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 4,683 people experiencing homelessness in New Mexico, up 1.1% on 2024 (4,631) and up 44.5% on 2019 (3,241); 23rd smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in New Mexico sleep outside?
Of those counted in New Mexico in January 2025, 2,537 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 2,146 (45.8%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 14th highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in New Mexico?
The January 2025 count in New Mexico included 782 people in families with children, 512 children under 18, 1,694 chronically homeless individuals and 308 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in New Mexico are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 12.9% of households in New Mexico were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 11th highest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in New Mexico getting worse?
5.0% of households in New Mexico had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 13.4% in 2018-20 and 13.2% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -0.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow New Mexico compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
New Mexico ranks 5 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mississippi | 17.8% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 16.4% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.2% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.2% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
New Mexico ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 25.0% |
| 2 | Mississippi | 25.0% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 25.0% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 20.5% |
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
New Mexico ranks 17 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Alabama | 0.4745 |
| 15 | Georgia | 0.4730 |
| 16 | Washington | 0.4725 |
| 17 | New Mexico | 0.4722 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.4721 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
New Mexico ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Vermont | 48.8% |
| 29 | Illinois | 48.7% |
| 30 | Indiana | 48.5% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 48.4% |
| 32 | Idaho | 48.4% |
| 33 | Alabama | 48.2% |
| 34 | Utah | 48.2% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
New Mexico ranks 1 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | 19.3% |
| 2 | West Virginia | 17.0% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.7% |
| 4 | Oregon | 16.4% |
| 5 | New York | 16.2% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
New Mexico ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | West Virginia | 13.7% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 13.1% |
| 10 | Michigan | 13.0% |
| 11 | New Mexico | 12.9% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 12.9% |
| 13 | Ohio | 12.8% |
| 14 | Georgia | 12.8% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
New Mexico ranks 29 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Wisconsin | 5,243 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 5,174 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 4,683 |
| 30 | Utah | 4,584 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 4,398 |
| 32 | Alabama | 4,137 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
New Mexico ranks 14 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Florida | 47.2% |
| 12 | Tennessee | 46.1% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 45.9% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 45.8% |
| 15 | Texas | 43.4% |
| 16 | Louisiana | 42.1% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 41.7% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
New Mexico ranks 29 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Indiana | 591,860 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 591,369 |
| 28 | Nevada | 495,769 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 466,081 |
| 30 | Minnesota | 452,645 |
| 31 | Connecticut | 369,295 |
| 32 | Mississippi | 363,309 |
More on New Mexico: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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