Mescalero, NM Demographics

A map of Mescalero's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	709	1,301	85.2%	87.9%
White	54	38	6.5%	2.6%
Hispanic	54	128	6.5%	8.6%
Multiracial	15	11	1.8%	0.7%
Black	0	1	0.0%	0.1%
Asian	0	1	0.0%	0.1%

Mescalero, New Mexico has an estimated population of 832, a dramatic decrease from the 1,480 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 85.2% Native American/Other, 6.5% White, 6.5% Hispanic, 1.8% Multiracial, 0.0% Black, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Mescalero, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Mescalero has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New Mexico overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Mescalero, that probability was 21.9% in 2020 and 26.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Mescalero is ranked the 181st most populous place in New Mexico, out of 528 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Mescalero was ranked the 114th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Mescalero's White Population

54 residents of Mescalero, or 6.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Mescalero is significantly lower than in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. Mescalero ranks 468th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's White population has grown by an estimated 42.1%. White residents' share of Mescalero's population has increased from 2.6% to 6.5%.

Mescalero is more White than neighboring Bent (0% White). Mescalero is less White than neighboring Cloudcroft (98.3% White), High Rolls (66.9% White), La Luz (38.8% White), and Tularosa (40.5% White).

Mescalero's Black Population

0 residents of Mescalero, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Mescalero is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Mescalero ranks 300th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Mescalero's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Mescalero is less Black than neighboring La Luz (0.2% Black).

Mescalero's Asian Population

0 residents of Mescalero, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Mescalero is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Mescalero ranks 284th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Mescalero's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Mescalero is less Asian than neighboring Tularosa (0.3% Asian).

Mescalero's Hispanic Population

54 residents of Mescalero, or 6.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Mescalero is significantly lower than in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. Mescalero ranks 440th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 57.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Mescalero's population has decreased from 8.6% to 6.5%.

Mescalero is more Hispanic than neighboring Cloudcroft (1.6% Hispanic). Mescalero is less Hispanic than neighboring Bent (100% Hispanic), High Rolls (25.3% Hispanic), La Luz (52.6% Hispanic), and Tularosa (49.9% Hispanic).

Mescalero's Native American/Other Population

709 residents of Mescalero, or 85.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Mescalero is significantly higher than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. Mescalero ranks 52nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 45.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Mescalero's population has decreased from 87.9% to 85.2%.

Mescalero is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bent (0% Native American/Other), Cloudcroft (0% Native American/Other), High Rolls (0% Native American/Other), La Luz (2.2% Native American/Other), and Tularosa (6.7% Native American/Other).

Mescalero's Multiracial Population

15 residents of Mescalero, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Mescalero is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. Mescalero ranks 437th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Mescalero's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 36.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Mescalero's population has increased from 0.7% to 1.8%.

Mescalero is more Multiracial than neighboring Bent (0% Multiracial), and Cloudcroft (0.2% Multiracial). Mescalero is less Multiracial than neighboring High Rolls (7.8% Multiracial), La Luz (6.2% Multiracial), and Tularosa (2.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.