Bordering states
New Mexico vs Texas
Short answer
- NM
- 2,130,256
- TX
- 31,290,831
The two states, county by county
Both maps share one density scale, so the same shade means the same number of people per square mile on either side of the border. Darker counties are denser. Select a county to open its page.
New Mexico
Texas
- < 4
- < 12
- < 30
- < 81
- ≥ 81
Residents, 2024
- 01New Mexico2,130,256
- 02Texas31,290,831
Land, square miles
- 01New Mexico121,313
- 02Texas261,259
People per square mile
- 01New Mexico17.6
- 02Texas119.8
Median county household income
- 01New Mexico$51,111
- 02Texas$60,358
Side by side
| Measure | New Mexico | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 2,130,256 | 31,290,831 |
| Rank by population | 36th | 2nd |
| Land, sq mi | 121,313 | 261,259 |
| People per sq mi | 17.6 | 119.8 |
| County-equivalents | 33 | 254 |
| Median county residents | 26,428 | 19,267 |
| Median county income | $51,111 | $60,358 |
| Most populous county | Bernalillo County | Harris County |
| Largest county by land | Catron County | Brewster County |
| Capital | Santa Fe | Austin |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 35 min | 14 h 06 min |
| Census division | Mountain | West South Central |
Population and density
Texas has 31,290,831 residents, 14.7 times New Mexico's 2,130,256. New Mexico ranks 36th and Texas 2nd of the 50 states and DC. Texas is the more crowded, with 119.8 people per square mile against 17.6, 6.8 times.
Land area
Texas has 261,259 square miles of land, 2.2 times New Mexico's 121,313. The largest county-equivalent in New Mexico is Catron County at 6,924 square miles; in Texas it is Brewster County at 6,184.
Counties
Texas is divided into 254 county-equivalents and New Mexico into 33, so an average Texas county covers 1,029 square miles against 3,676. The typical county in New Mexico has 26,428 residents, against 19,267 in Texas. The most populous are Bernalillo County (671,747) and Harris County (5,009,302).
2 county names appear on both sides of the border: Guadalupe, Hidalgo. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Texas has a household income of $60,358, 18% above New Mexico's $51,111. The highest county incomes are Los Alamos County ($146,208) in New Mexico and Collin County ($120,149) in Texas, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Santa Fe and Austin are 604 miles apart in a straight line; from Santa Fe the initial bearing is 126°, SE. On June 21, 2026, Santa Fe gets 14 h 35 min of daylight and Austin 14 h 06 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 44 min and 10 h 12 min. Month by month tables are on the Santa Fe and Austin daylight pages.
Where they sit
The border between them is also a Census region boundary: New Mexico is in the West and Texas in the South. By county internal points, New Mexico spans 2 UTM zones and Texas 3.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, New Mexico or Texas?
Texas, with 261,259 square miles of land against 121,313, 2.15 times as large.
Which has more people, New Mexico or Texas?
Texas has 31,290,831 residents, 14.7 times New Mexico's 2,130,256.
How far is Santa Fe from Austin?
604 miles in a straight line, heading SE (126°) from Santa Fe.
Do New Mexico and Texas have counties with the same name?
Yes, 2: Guadalupe, Hidalgo.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
- 01Census Vintage 2024 county population estimates
- 02Census 2024 Gazetteer, counties
- 03Census SAIPE 2023 state and county estimates
- 04Census Bureau regions and divisions of the United States (last verified 2026-09-30)
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.