Sunland Park: Demographics & People

17,463 people call Sunland Park home, in 5,557 households. Population grew 2.2% from 17,085 (2022) to 17,463 (2024). Median age 30.9 years. (3.4y younger than Doña Ana County; 8.8y younger than New Mexico). Children under 18 are 30% of the population. Population is 94% Hispanic or Latino and 5% White (non-Hispanic). 76% of households are family-led. County health: 36% adult obesity, 15% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 2.2% from 17,085 (2022) to 17,463 (2024) — about 3.7× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~17,851 (extrapolated at 1.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 18,376.

Census data vintage2024
Population219,561 people
Annual growth rate · Population change2.2%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)17,085
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)17,463
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorygrowing
Population17,463 people
Population Estimate18,376

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 30.9y is 8.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 30% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age30.9 years (vs New Mexico 39.7y)
Age Summary · Children Pct29.6%
Age Summary · Characteryoung professional
Population under 185,161
Median age30.9 years (vs New Mexico 39.7y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 17,463 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).

White residents5,997
Black residents84
Hispanic or Latino residents16,032
Diversity Index · Simpson Index3.9%
Diversity Index · Interpretationless diverse
Black population0.9%
Hispanic or Latino population93.6%
White (non-Hispanic) population5.1%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
Italian

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 24% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state2,285
Residents born in another state10,566
Share born in this state13.1%
Share born in another state86.9%
Native-born U.S. citizens60.5%
Foreign-born residents2.4%
Naturalized citizens24.0%
Total foreign-born residents5,172
From Europe45

Households & Family Composition

5,557 households. Averaging 3.0 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 76% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,225 families, 25% are married couples with children.

Children under 184,916
Total families4,225
Married couples with children1,076
Single-parent households460
Average household size2.96
Women who gave birth (past year)7.6%
Grandparents living with grandchildren768
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren334
Family households4,235 households
Households that are families76.2%
Total households5,557 households

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.

Moved within the county (past year)10.1%
Migration · People moving in (annual)194,947
Migration · People moving out (annual)194,932
Migration · Net migration (in − out)15
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability914
Disability rate5.5%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 59 residents live in group quarters (0.3% of population).

Living in group quarters59

Other

Congressional District · District2
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips35,013
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips35
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips13
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyDona Ana
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate24.5%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci22.80
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci26.20
Cdc Mortality · Fips35,013
Cdc Mortality · CountyDona Ana County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralSmall metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20237,935
Cdc Vaccination · Fips35,013
Cdc Vaccination · CountyDona Ana County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct95.0%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct80.3%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct50.6%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019218,195
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score5.60
Family Score · Schools5
Family Score · Childcare Centers7
Family Score · Children Pct29.6%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 17,463, growing, young professional, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population17,463 people
Town Summary · CountyDoña Ana County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade