1st Advantage MortgageAbout 65% of Bernalillo County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $69,473. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Bernalillo County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Bernalillo County
- How Bernalillo County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Bernalillo County
- How Bernalillo County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bernalillo County
- What a median Bernalillo County budget can carry
- Bernalillo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Bernalillo County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Bernalillo County borrowers
- New Mexico rules that apply in Bernalillo County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bernalillo County at a glance
Bernalillo County is home to about 673,930 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 1st most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. It covers 1,161 square miles of land, or about 580 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Albuquerque, NM metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Albuquerque is the biggest of its 24 Census places, at roughly 562,218 people (83% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Bernalillo County
At $69,473, the typical Bernalillo County household income is 6% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 4 New Mexico counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Bernalillo County | vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | -2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | +1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | +1.2 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 15.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 17.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Bernalillo County median.
How Bernalillo County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (16% against 13%). The survey's unemployment rate for Bernalillo County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Bernalillo County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.9% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Bernalillo County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,144 in Bernalillo County versus $1,067 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. With a median value of $292,900, a typical Bernalillo County house costs 4.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 65% of homes. Median construction year: 1982.
| Measure | Bernalillo County | New Mexico | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,144/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $292,900 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.2% | 15.5% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Bernalillo County compares with nearby counties
Valencia County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Socorro County, is 75 miles off. Income ranges from $36,570 in Socorro County to $147,139 in Los Alamos County; 3 of these neighbors top Bernalillo County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | - | $69,473 | $1,144/mo | 65% |
| Valencia County, NM | 25 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 45 mi | $86,636 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 51 mi | $79,071 | $1,389/mo | 72% |
| Torrance County, NM | 56 mi | $57,842 | $872/mo | 82% |
| Los Alamos County, NM | 60 mi | $147,139 | $1,375/mo | 75% |
| Socorro County, NM | 75 mi | $36,570 | $691/mo | 75% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bernalillo County
24 Census places fall mainly inside Bernalillo County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 751,809 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,898 in San Antonito to $230,804 in Paa-Ko. Median rent ranges from $775 in Tijeras to $3,050 in Sandia Heights. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Bernalillo County community.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | city | 562,218 | $68,317 | $1,145 | 4 mi |
| Rio Rancho | city | 108,515 | $89,596 | $1,514 | 16 mi |
| South Valley | CDP | 37,120 | $58,224 | $954 | 3 mi |
| North Valley | CDP | 10,455 | $61,498 | $893 | 9 mi |
| Edgewood | town | 6,124 | $84,761 | $1,114 | 26 mi |
| Los Ranchos de Albuquerque | village | 5,857 | $72,992 | $1,061 | 8 mi |
| Paradise Hills | CDP | 4,591 | $73,295 | $1,361 | 10 mi |
| Kirtland AFB | CDP | 3,413 | $84,884 | $1,794 | 6 mi |
| Sandia Heights | CDP | 3,160 | $143,646 | $3,050 | 13 mi |
| Sandia Knolls | CDP | 1,445 | $91,827 | $1,107 | 22 mi |
| Ponderosa Pine | CDP | 1,442 | $87,361 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Barton | CDP | 1,302 | $81,723 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Isleta | CDP | 1,043 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Cedar Crest | CDP | 886 | n/a | $932 | 17 mi |
What a median Bernalillo County budget can carry
Here is the Bernalillo County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,789 gross per month ($69,473 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,144 uses 20%
- $940: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,345 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bernalillo County's.
Bernalillo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.8%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| People and households | Bernalillo County | New Mexico | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.2% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bernalillo County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Reading the Bernalillo County data as a borrower
Where the Bernalillo County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Four steps for Bernalillo County borrowers
Steps that save money for Bernalillo County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
New Mexico rules that apply in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the New Mexico state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Bernalillo County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bernalillo County?
$69,473 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 5th of 32 in the state.
How much is rent in Bernalillo County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,144 a month; 52% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Bernalillo County?
By population: Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, South Valley, North Valley, Edgewood. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bernalillo County or elsewhere in New Mexico, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bernalillo County residents?
The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division licenses consumer lenders in New Mexico; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.