Recognition of Same-sex Unions in New Mexico - Demographics

Demographics

In April 2008, the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law, using data from the United States Census Bureau, issued a "Census Snapshot" that concluded, "While in many respects New Mexico’s same-sex couples look like married couples, same-sex couples with children have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married parents and lower rates of home ownership."

Analyzing census data on same-sex "unmarried-partner" households, the report determined that:

• In 2000, there were 4,496 same-sex couples living in New Mexico. By 2005, the number of same-sex couples disclosing their partnerships to the census bureau had increased to 6,063.
• In 2005, there were an estimated 68,411 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) living in New Mexico.
• There are more female same-sex couples (58%) than male same-sex couples (42%) in New Mexico.
• Individuals in same-sex couples are, on average, 42 years old, and significantly younger than individuals in married couples (48 years old) in New Mexico.
• Same-sex couples live in every county in New Mexico and constitute 1.2% of coupled households and 0.7% of all households in the state.
• 71% of individuals in same-sex couples are employed, compared to 60% of married individuals.
• The average household income of same-sex couples is $53,720, compared to $59,692 for married couples. The median income of both same-sex and married coupled households in New Mexico is $47,000.
• 66% of same-sex couples in New Mexico own their home, compared to 83% of married couples.
• 27% of same-sex couples in New Mexico are raising children under the age of 18.
• As of 2005, an estimated 3,624 of New Mexico’s children were living in households headed by same-sex couples.
• 9% of New Mexico’s adopted children (or 1,056 children) live with a lesbian or gay parent.