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Chaves County, NM
5 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Chaves County, New Mexico.
Population
64,217
Land area
6,067sq mi
People per sq mi
11
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Chaves County
Chaves County at a glance
- Chaves County is 39% less dense than New Mexico as a whole.
- It is the 10th most populous of 33 counties in New Mexico.
- Households here earn a median of $52,938 a year, 17% less than the New Mexico figure of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $156,400 (37% below New Mexico) and median rent is $867 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Roswell (47,638), Dexter (1,128) and Hagerman (849).
Local data for Chaves County, NM
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools37
- Colleges2
- Libraries1
- Banks18
- Post Offices5
- Parks21
- Grocery Stores17
- Restaurants179
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies5
- Dialysis Centers1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers11
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools4
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Superfund Sites2
- Toxic Release Facilities3
- Historic Places14
Housing and community stats
Chaves County, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$52,938
Poverty rate
24.3%
Median home value
$156,400
Prices +3.5% in a year
Median rent
$867/mo
Homeownership
71.3%
Bachelor's or higher
17.9%
Median age
37.2
Average commute
19.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (31,101), German Americans (4,122), Irish Americans (3,495).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.9%
Aug 2026, +0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,083
21,847 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,036
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$460M
FY 2026, $7,056 per person
PPP loans
$103M
1,217 loans, 13,379 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$249K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Chaves County, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.8%
- Carpooled9.4%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 19.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Chaves County, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
694
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
282
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
97° / 28°F
11.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone14 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Chaves County, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.8%
U.S. 33.3% +6.5 pts
Diabetes
14.3%
U.S. 12.1% +2.2 pts
Smoking
15.1%
U.S. 12.8% +2.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
20.2%
U.S. 11.1% +9.1 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Chaves County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Chaves County, NM?
- Roswell is the largest city or town in Chaves County, with about 47,638 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Chaves County?
- Chaves County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 88116, 88201, 88203, 88230, 88232.
- What is the population of Chaves County, NM?
- About 64,217 people live in Chaves County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Chaves County?
- Chaves County borders Lea County, Otero County, Eddy County, Lincoln County, Roosevelt County, De Baca County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023