Population
11,395
2025
−1.4% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Sierra County, NM: population growth, jobs and income
Sierra County lost 18 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.2%).
Sierra County had an estimated 11,395 residents in 2025, down 1.4% (167 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than New Mexico as a whole (+0.3%), and the 18th fastest growth of 32 counties in New Mexico.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Sierra County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Sierra County, ranked against New Mexico and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$729/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes33.7%2020–24
- Rent growth, 5 years+29.9%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
+162
2025
14.2 per 1,000 residents
+761 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
6.1%
2025
−0.6 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
Not reported
Not in the Census Building Permits Survey after 2021, so there is no current figure.
Median household income
$41,600
2020–24
+22.8% 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
2,180
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 added 162 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 2,180 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.2% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 6.1% in 2025, 0.6 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Median household income was $41,600 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +22.8% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,317th.
Get Sierra County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Sierra County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sierra County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11,395 | −18 |
| 2024 | 11,413 | −135 |
| 2023 | 11,548 | +58 |
| 2022 | 11,490 | −37 |
| 2021 | 11,527 | −35 |
| 2020 | 11,562 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Sierra County
Sierra County lost 167 people since 2020 even though 761 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 929, and net international migration took away 2.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −169 | −929 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −10 | −2 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +162 | +761 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | +3 | |
| Total change | −18 | −167 |
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 | 18th of 32 | 2,317th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 1st of 32 | 294th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 28th of 32 | 2,722nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 29th of 31 | 3,010th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 31st of 32 | 2,908th 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 Sierra 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.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Doña Ana County and Otero County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Sierra County's population change (−1.4%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
5 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Sierra County's $41,600 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra County, NM This county | 11,395 | −1.4% | 14.2 | – | $41,600 |
| Doña Ana County, NM | 229,091 | +4.1% | 2.5 | 3.6 | $56,848 |
| Socorro County, NM | 15,838 | −4.3% | −4.1 | – | $36,570 |
| Luna County, NM | 25,407 | −0.2% | −8.6 | 0.1 | $36,419 |
| Grant County, NM | 27,252 | −3.4% | −3.1 | – | $44,958 |
| Otero County, NM | 70,368 | +3.7% | −6.3 | 0.0 | $55,876 |
| Catron County, NM | 3,827 | +6.1% | 12.5 | – | $49,864 |
| Lincoln County, NM | 19,844 | −2.3% | −3.2 | 5.6 | $53,303 |
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 Sierra County growing?
No. Its population fell 1.4% between 2020 and 2025, about 167 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). New Mexico as a whole changed +0.3% over the same years. That ranks 18th of 32 counties in New Mexico for population growth.
How many people moved to Sierra County?
On net, about 162 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Sierra County?
It averaged 6.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Sierra County?
About 11,395 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Sierra County?
Private employers there had 2,180 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.
Sierra County data alerts
Email me when Sierra 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.