Hot air balloons over the Rio Grande and Sandia Mountains
County in New Mexico

Bernalillo County

Bernalillo County has the largest economy in New Mexico ($54.8 billion GDP) and the 3rd lowest homeownership rate (64.5%).

Bernalillo County is home to 671,747 people (2024 estimate) on 1,161 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
671,747
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
676,446
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.7%
2020–2024
Land area
1,161 mi²
3,008 km²
Population density
578.5 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
6,579
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
6,721
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−142
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−675
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$62,836
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$54.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$69,473
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
15.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
38.2%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
10.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$292,900
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.7%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
671,747▲ 20%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate671,7472024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census662,5642010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000557,601July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+20.5%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+3,9432024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−4,6182024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate9.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate10.0 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in New Mexico1st of 332024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$62,836BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$54.8 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$69,473ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate15.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher38.2%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents10.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$292,900ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,144/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age39.5 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households285,495ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes64.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Bernalillo County in context

Comparable indicators for Bernalillo County, New Mexico and the United States.

IndicatorCountyNew MexicoU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024−0.7%+0.6%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)9.89.810.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)10.010.59.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)-1.04.98.22024
Population density (/mi²)578.517.696.32024
Per capita personal income$62,836$58,249$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$69,473$64,059$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate15.2%17.8%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher38.2%31.0%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents10.5%9.4%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$292,900$248,100$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,144/month$1,067/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age39.5 years39.4 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes64.5%70.0%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

1 city · choose how to order them

Did you know? Bernalillo County

1st most populous of 33

With 671,747 residents in 2024, Bernalillo County ranks 1st by population among New Mexico's 33 counties and is home to 31.5% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 557,601 in 2000 to 671,747 in 2024, a change of +20.5%, compared with +17.0% for New Mexico as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 6,579 births and 6,721 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 142.

Peak population in 2019

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 679,425 in 2019. The 2024 figure is 7,678 lower.

1st in density

Bernalillo County has about 578.5 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 33 counties; New Mexico averages 17.6.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $69,473 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 33 New Mexico counties; the state median is $64,059.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $54.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 33 New Mexico counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.2% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology