Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
New Mexico vs Mississippi
New Mexico and Mississippi compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. New Mexico leads in 8 of the comparable categories.
8
New Mexico wins
4
Mississippi wins
| Metric | New Mexico | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,114,768 | 2,951,438 |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 38.4 |
| Median Household Income | $62,125 | $54,915 |
| Per Capita Income | $34,823 | $30,529 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.7% | 14.3% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Median Home Value | $232,200 | $161,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,021 | $923 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% | 69.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 30.2% | 24.2% |
| High School+ | 87.7% | 86.6% |
| Work From Home | 11.0% | 5.3% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 23.2 | 25.6 |
| White | 53.6% | 56.3% |
| Hispanic | 12.0% | 1.2% |
| Black | 2.1% | 37.0% |
| Asian | 5.9% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 36.7% | 25.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
New Mexico has a population of 2,114,768 compared to Mississippi's 2,951,438.
Across the metrics compared, New Mexico leads in 8 categories while Mississippi leads in 4. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
The side-by-side above pulls the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data for both New Mexico and Mississippi. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for New Mexico versus Mississippi, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.