1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Chaves County is $867 a month against a median household income of $52,938, about 20% of income (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Chaves County offer.
On this page
- Chaves County at a glance
- The Chaves County job picture
- Chaves County at the extremes
- Where Chaves County households live
- The $52,938 median and what sits around it
- Census places in Chaves County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Reading the Chaves County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income, Chaves County edition
- Chaves County households compared
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Chaves County at a glance
Roughly 64,217 residents live in Chaves County, New Mexico, 10th by population among the state's 33 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 6,067 square miles, that works out to roughly 10.6 residents per square mile. Chaves County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 5 Census places inside Chaves County, Roswell leads by population with about 47,638; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
The Chaves County job picture
Education and health care (24%), retail trade (13%) and arts, lodging and food service (11%) lead Chaves County's job mix. Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 10%; under 15 minutes: 47%.
| Where residents work | Chaves County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -4.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | +2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Chaves County at the extremes
- Few New Mexico counties match Chaves County on the share of mobile homes: 13.2% here, 15.5% for the state, ranking 6th lowest of 33. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Chaves County sits near the bottom of New Mexico at 12%, 7th lowest of 33. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
Where Chaves County households live
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $867 in Chaves County versus $1,067 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Chaves County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $156,400, or 3.0 years of median income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%. Half the housing stock was built before 1972.
| Chaves County | New Mexico | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,400 | $248,100 | 37% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | -2.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 13.2% | 15.5% | -2.3 pts |
| Median gross rent | $867/mo | $1,067/mo | 19% lower |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | +1.8 pts |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | +1.3 pts |
| Vacant units | 12% | 12% | -0.8 pts |
The $52,938 median and what sits around it
The median household income in Chaves County is $52,938; statewide it is $64,059, so Chaves County runs 17% below New Mexico as a whole. Only 17 New Mexico counties post a higher median.
| Band | Chaves County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.8% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -3.6 pts |
On the low end, 36% of Chaves County households report under $35,000; at the top, 23% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 24.3% of Chaves County residents in poverty, against 17.8% across New Mexico. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Census places in Chaves County
50,634 of Chaves County's 64,217 residents live in its 5 Census places (79%); the 5 largest are listed. Hagerman has the highest median household income on the list ($64,674) and Dexter the lowest ($43,846), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Chaves County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roswell | city | 47,638 | $51,583 | $876 | 4 mi |
| Dexter | town | 1,128 | $43,846 | $673 | 13 mi |
| Hagerman | town | 849 | $64,674 | $734 | 19 mi |
| Midway | CDP | 541 | $44,258 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lake Arthur | town | 478 | $76,429 | n/a | 26 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (62 to 96 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Chaves County; Yoakum County is highest at $84,925 and Roosevelt County lowest at $52,685. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaves County | - | $52,938 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Lincoln County, NM | 62 mi | $53,303 | $956/mo | 77% |
| Eddy County, NM | 63 mi | $78,426 | $1,245/mo | 73% |
| Lea County, NM | 73 mi | $68,015 | $1,101/mo | 71% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 73 mi | $52,685 | $898/mo | 61% |
| Otero County, NM | 90 mi | $55,876 | $962/mo | 67% |
| Yoakum County, TX | 96 mi | $84,925 | $973/mo | 67% |
Reading the Chaves County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Chaves County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 11% of Chaves County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 24% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Debt-to-income, Chaves County edition
Chaves County's $52,938 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Monthly gross at the median, Chaves County: $4,412
- 20% goes to median rent ($867)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $898 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Chaves County households compared
18% of Chaves County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Uninsured, Chaves County: 10.8%; New Mexico: 9.6%.
| Measure | Chaves County | Gap to New Mexico | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.9% | -13.1 pts | -4.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 19.1% | +7.1 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 5.4% | -6.8 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 24.3% | +6.5 pts | +11.1 pts |
| Median age | 37.2 | -2.2 yrs | -4.3 yrs |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | +1.1 pts | +2.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | -0.9 pts | +0.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | -0.1 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Minutes to work | Chaves County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
Before sharing details with a lender, a Chaves County resident can confirm its license with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: New Mexico guide.
Keep exploring
No city in Chaves County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chaves County a high-income county?
Its $52,938 median ranks 18th of 32 New Mexico counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Chaves County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $867 against $1,067 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Roswell?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Chaves County, such as Dexter, Hagerman, Midway.
Is the fit check different in Chaves County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Chaves 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.