Population
39,832
2025
−1.0% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Rio Arriba County, NM: population growth, jobs and income
Rio Arriba County lost 116 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.3%).
Rio Arriba County had an estimated 39,832 residents in 2025, down 1.0% (421 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than New Mexico as a whole (+0.3%), and the 15th fastest growth of 32 counties in New Mexico.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Rio Arriba County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Rio Arriba County, ranked against New Mexico and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$740/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes21.2%2020–24
- Rent growth, 5 years+17.6%2016-2020 to 2020-2024
- New homes permitted, last 12 monthsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−99
2025
−2.5 per 1,000 residents
−241 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
2025
−1.8 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
Median household income
$57,155
2020–24
+35.2% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
5,426
2023
−8.2% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 99 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 5,426 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.2% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.1% in 2025, 1.8 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Median household income was $57,155 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +35.2% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,206th.
Part of the Española, NM micro area.
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Rio Arriba County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39,832 | −116 |
| 2024 | 39,948 | +48 |
| 2023 | 39,900 | −41 |
| 2022 | 39,941 | −252 |
| 2021 | 40,193 | −60 |
| 2020 | 40,253 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Rio Arriba County
Rio Arriba County lost 421 people since 2020; the biggest drag was natural change (−637).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −97 | −637 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +80 | +452 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −99 | −241 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | +5 | |
| Total change | −116 | −421 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In New Mexico | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 15th of 32 | 2,206th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 14th of 32 | 2,288th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 27th of 32 | 2,718th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 11th of 31 | 2,291st of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 12th of 32 | 1,689th of 3,108 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Rio Arriba County, NM as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Rio Arriba County's population change (−1.0%) was ahead of 1 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 7.
5 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Rio Arriba County's $57,155 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Arriba County, NM This county | 39,832 | −1.0% | −2.5 | – | $57,155 |
| Los Alamos County, NM | 19,407 | −0.0% | −4.4 | 0.8 | $147,139 |
| Sandoval County, NM | 159,565 | +6.9% | 12.9 | 6.4 | $86,636 |
| Archuleta County, CO | 14,306 | +6.6% | 13.8 | 8.7 | $83,065 |
| Conejos County, CO | 7,529 | +1.0% | 1.6 | 2.7 | $50,978 |
| Taos County, NM | 34,564 | +0.3% | 7.0 | 3.0 | $58,950 |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 156,907 | +1.2% | −0.9 | 3.2 | $79,071 |
| San Juan County, NM | 120,340 | −0.9% | −1.5 | 0.7 | $55,872 |
| Mora County, NM | 4,051 | −3.3% | −4.2 | – | $53,663 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Rio Arriba County growing?
No. Its population fell 1.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 421 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). New Mexico as a whole changed +0.3% over the same years. That ranks 15th of 32 counties in New Mexico for population growth.
How many people moved to Rio Arriba County?
On net, none in 2025: about 99 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Rio Arriba County?
It averaged 4.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Rio Arriba County?
About 39,832 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Rio Arriba County?
Private employers there had 5,426 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.2% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in New Mexico
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other New Mexico county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Rio Arriba County data alerts
Email me when Rio Arriba County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.