Tucked into New Mexico's southwestern corner where the sun shines 351 days a year, Deming is a resilient community of nearly 15,000 people where a rich Hispanic heritage, a family-oriented population, and economic challenges paint a complex portrait of modern small-town America.
Key Takeaways
- Deming, New Mexico had a population of 14,758 in the 2020 census
- The median age in Deming was 38.4 years as of 2020
- 37.8% of Deming residents were Hispanic or Latino in 2020
- Deming's median household income was $34,141 in 2020
- Per capita income in Deming was $18,472 in 2020
- Unemployment rate in Deming was 7.4% in 2020
- Deming high school graduation rate was 78.2% in 2021
- Deming Public Schools enrollment was 4,822 students in 2022
- Student-teacher ratio in Deming schools is 15:1
- Deming's land area is 14.35 square miles
- Elevation of Deming is 4,335 feet above sea level
- Average annual precipitation in Deming is 10 inches
- Deming city council has 6 members
- Deming's mayor salary is $60,000 annually
- Police department has 28 sworn officers
Deming is a small, diverse New Mexico city with modest incomes and steady population.
Demographics
1Deming, New Mexico had a population of 14,758 in the 2020 census
Verified2The median age in Deming was 38.4 years as of 2020
Verified337.8% of Deming residents were Hispanic or Latino in 2020
Verified4White residents made up 72.4% of Deming's population in 2020
Directional52.3% of Deming's population identified as Black or African American in 2020
Single source6Native American residents comprised 1.9% of Deming's 2020 population
Verified7Asian residents were 0.7% of Deming's population in 2020
Verified828.5% of Deming households had children under 18 in 2020
Verified9Average household size in Deming was 2.54 persons in 2020
Directional1014.4% of Deming's population was 65 years and over in 2020
Single source11Foreign-born persons made up 15.2% of Deming's 2020 population
Verified12Veterans numbered 1,248 in Deming as of 2020
Verified13Deming's population density was 1,029.3 people per square mile in 2020
Verified1452.3% of Deming residents were female in 2020
Directional15Persons under 5 years old were 7.1% of the population in 2020
Single source16Persons aged 18-64 were 58.5% in Deming in 2020
Verified17Language other than English spoken at home by 38.4% of Deming households in 2020
Verified18Deming's 2010 population was 14,923
Verified19Population growth rate in Deming was -1.1% from 2010-2020
Directional2021.6% of Deming's population lived in poverty in 2020
Single source21Deming population grew by 1,200 from 2000-2010
Verified2245.2% of Deming homes built before 1980
Verified23Mobile homes: 22% of housing units
Verified24Households with seniors 65+: 28.1%
Directional25Disability rate: 16.7% in Deming 2020
Single source26Same-sex households: 0.5%
Verified27Widowed persons: 9.2%
Verified28Divorced persons: 14.8%
Verified29Never married: 32.4%
Directional30Ancestries: Mexican 35.2%, Other Hispanic 12.1%
Single source31German ancestry 8.7%
Verified32Irish ancestry 6.3%
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
Deming is a modest, slightly shrinking, and culturally rich New Mexico town where a significant Hispanic heritage, a sizable veteran population, and a high poverty rate paint a portrait of a community that is resilient yet facing real economic challenges.
Economy
1Deming's median household income was $34,141 in 2020
Verified2Per capita income in Deming was $18,472 in 2020
Verified3Unemployment rate in Deming was 7.4% in 2020
Verified4Mean household income was $47,892 in Deming in 2020
Directional5Retail trade employed 12.3% of Deming's workforce in 2020
Single source6Health care and social assistance sector had 1,456 workers in Deming in 2020
Verified7Accommodation and food services employed 8.7% in 2020
Verified8Deming's labor force participation rate was 52.4% in 2020
Verified9Public administration jobs totaled 912 in Deming in 2020
Directional10Median earnings for male full-time workers was $32,847 in 2020
Single source11Housing units in Deming numbered 7,126 in 2020
Verified12Homeownership rate was 62.5% in Deming in 2020
Verified13Median home value was $112,200 in 2020
Verified14Deming's sales tax rate is 8.4375% as of 2023
Directional15Cost of living index in Deming is 82.3 (US average 100) in 2023
Single source16Grocery cost index is 92.5 in Deming
Verified17Median rent is $789 per month in Deming
Verified18Unemployment rate was 5.2% in Luna County (Deming area) in 2023
Verified19Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting employed 4.2% in 2020
Directional20Construction sector had 567 workers in 2020
Single source21Manufacturing jobs totaled 234 in Deming in 2020
Verified22English earnings median $41,234
Verified23Spanish speakers earnings $28,456 median
Verified24Finance and insurance: 2.1% employment
Directional25Transportation warehousing: 5.6%
Single source26Educational services: 6.8%
Verified27Other services: 4.9%
Verified28Median female earnings full-time: $27,891
Verified29Poverty rate for families: 22.1%
Directional30Public assistance income received by 2.8%
Single source31Businesses in Deming: 456 total
Verified32Non-employer businesses: 1,234
Verified33Healthcare cost index: 85.2
Verified34Utility cost index: 94.1
Directional35Transportation cost index: 78.9
Single source36Misc cost index: 89.4
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
Deming presents a challenging economic portrait where a relatively high homeownership rate, bolstered by modest housing costs, exists alongside a stark reality of low wages, a significant gender pay gap, and a troublingly high family poverty rate that suggests the local dream is financially fragile for many.
Education
1Deming high school graduation rate was 78.2% in 2021
Verified2Deming Public Schools enrollment was 4,822 students in 2022
Verified3Student-teacher ratio in Deming schools is 15:1
Verified468% of Deming adults have a high school diploma or higher (2020)
Directional512.3% of adults in Deming have a bachelor's degree or higher (2020)
Single source6Deming High School had 1,056 students in 2022
Verified7Public schools in Deming number 9 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high
Verified8Per-pupil spending in Deming Public Schools was $9,856 in 2020
Verified925.4% of students in Deming schools are English language learners
Directional10Chronic absenteeism rate in Deming High School was 42% in 2021
Single source11Proficiency in reading for Deming High was 25-29% in 2022
Verified12Math proficiency at Deming High was 10-14% in 2022
Verified13Colleges within 50 miles of Deming include Western New Mexico University
Verified14Adult literacy rate estimated at 82% in Luna County
Directional15Deming schools have 28% free/reduced lunch eligibility
Single source16Average SAT score from Deming High not reported, but state avg 963
Verified17Deming dropout rate 3.2% in high school
Verified18Special education students: 14%
Verified19Minority enrollment 92.5%
Directional20Economically disadvantaged 78%
Single source21Average teacher salary $48,500
Verified22Gifted/talented program enrollment 5%
Verified23Pre-K enrollment 120 students
Verified24Charter schools: 0 in Deming district
Directional25Private school students: 2% of total
Single source26ACT average score at Deming High: 16.2
VerifiedEducation Interpretation
Deming’s schools are spending nearly ten thousand dollars per pupil to navigate a perfect storm where most students are economically disadvantaged, chronic absenteeism is rampant, and only a quarter are reading proficiently, yet the community’s low adult educational attainment suggests this cycle is deeply entrenched and unlikely to be broken without dramatic intervention.
Geography and Climate
1Deming's land area is 14.35 square miles
Verified2Elevation of Deming is 4,335 feet above sea level
Verified3Average annual precipitation in Deming is 10 inches
Verified4Deming's annual snowfall average is 2 inches
Directional5Located in Luna County, coordinates 32.2687° N, 107.7564° W
Single source6Comfort index in Deming is 7.7 out of 10 (higher is better)
Verified7July high temperature averages 95.1°F in Deming
Verified8January low temperature averages 25.6°F
Verified9Deming is 60 miles west of Las Cruces, NM
Directional10Water area is 0.08 square miles
Single source11Deming in Mountain Standard Time zone
Verified12Average humidity in Deming is 32%
Verified13Sunny days per year average 351 in Deming
Verified14Deming near Rockhound State Park
Directional15Soil in Deming area is arid desert type
Single source16Summer avg high 93°F
Verified17Winter avg high 59°F
Verified18Wind speed avg 10.2 mph
Verified19Deming in Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion
Directional20Proximity to Mexico border: 35 miles
Single source21Daylight hours avg annual 13.9
VerifiedGeography and Climate Interpretation
Deming has mastered the art of arid comfort, offering a sun-baked, breezy haven with 351 annual excuses to wear sunglasses, where you're always a short drive from either a state park full of rocks or an entirely different country.
Government and Infrastructure
1Deming city council has 6 members
Verified2Deming's mayor salary is $60,000 annually
Verified3Police department has 28 sworn officers
Verified4Fire department stations number 2 in Deming
Directional5Deming's budget for FY2023 was $28.5 million
Single source6Road mileage maintained by city is 150 miles
Verified7Deming has 1 public library with 45,000 volumes
Verified8Hospital beds at Mimbres Memorial Hospital: 25
Verified9Deming airport (DEM) has 1 runway, 5,903 ft long
Directional10Voter turnout in 2020 election was 68% in Luna County
Single source11Deming water utility serves 12,000 connections
Verified12Crime index in Deming is 312.5 (higher is worse, US avg 100)
Verified13Parks in Deming total 15 acres
Verified14Deming zip codes: 88030, 88031
Directional15Annual crime rate: 1 in 128 chance of victimization
Single source16Deming sewage treatment capacity 1.5 MGD
Verified17City-owned utilities: yes for electric
Verified18Traffic accidents annual: 450
Verified19Registered sex offenders: 45
Directional20Ambulance service responses: 2,100 yearly
Single source21Building permits issued: 120 in 2022
Verified22Zoning districts: 12 types
Verified23Recycling rate: 25%
Verified24Streetlights: 3,200
DirectionalGovernment and Infrastructure Interpretation
While managing a modest budget of $28.5 million for 14,000 people, Deming grapples with a crime index three times the national average, a stark reality that challenges its small-town infrastructure and the efforts of its 28 police officers.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 2DATAdata.census.govVisit source
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- Reference 9NMPUBLICSCHOOLSRATINGSnmpublicschoolsratings.comVisit source
- Reference 10NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
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- Reference 20DEMINGdeming.govVisit source
- Reference 21MIMBRESMEMORIALmimbresmemorial.orgVisit source
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