Estancia, a town in Torrance County, New Mexico, is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 Census, there were 1,584 people, 393 households, and 284 families residing in the town. The population density was 277.7 people per square mile (107.3/km²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 85.4/sq mi (33.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.08% White, 10.16% African American, 2.21% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 14.71% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.57% of the population.
There were 393 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 40.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 186.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 217.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,276, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $26,932 versus $18,214 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,479. About 19.9% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.