1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Cibola County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $50,759. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Cibola County by the numbers
- Cibola County housing compared with New Mexico
- Jobs and commutes in Cibola County
- Where Cibola County differs from the rest of New Mexico
- Earnings across Cibola County households
- The communities that make up Cibola County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Who lives in Cibola County, in numbers
- $4,230 a month: the Cibola County median budget
- Reading the Cibola County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Cibola County applicants
- Verifying a lender from Cibola County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Cibola County by the numbers
With an estimated 26,845 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cibola County ranks 17th of 33 in New Mexico for population. Cibola County spans 4,540 square miles; with 26,845 people, that is 5.9 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cibola County is not part of any metropolitan area. Grants is the biggest of its 33 Census places, at roughly 8,951 people (33% of the county total).
Cibola County housing compared with New Mexico
$759 a month is the median gross rent in Cibola County, 29% below the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 55% in Cibola County, 50% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $125,400, about 2.5 times the median household income. In Cibola County, 76% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1978. Against the median U.S. county, Cibola County rent is 13% below.
| Cibola County | New Mexico | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 23.8% | 15.5% | +8.2 pts |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | +6.1 pts |
| Median home value | $125,400 | $248,100 | 49% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 50% | +4.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | -4.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $759/mo | $1,067/mo | 29% lower |
At a $125,400 median value, many Cibola County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). With rent burdens at 55%, keep any Cibola County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Jobs and commutes in Cibola County
Top Cibola County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 28%; second, arts, lodging and food service, 14%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Cibola County averages 10.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Households without a car make up 9.1% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Top industries | Cibola County share | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.1% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.1% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 11.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.4% | +4.8 pts |
| Other services | 6.7% | +1.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Where Cibola County differs from the rest of New Mexico
Where Cibola County lands at the extremes of New Mexico's county rankings:
- Few New Mexico counties match Cibola County on the ACS unemployment rate: 10.5% here, 6.0% for the state, ranking 2nd highest of 33. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- Cibola County ranks 4th highest of 33 New Mexico counties for the poverty rate: 28.4%, against 17.8% statewide. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- Households without a vehicle: 9.1% in Cibola County. Only 3 of 33 New Mexico counties are higher. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
Earnings across Cibola County households
Cibola County households have a median income of $50,759 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 20th of 32 in New Mexico.
| Income band | Share in Cibola County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.9% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -3.9 pts |
39% under $35,000 and 22% at $100,000 or more: that is the Cibola County income split. The poverty rate is 28.4%, 11 points higher than the state's 17.8%. None of these numbers decides a Cibola County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The communities that make up Cibola County
33 Census places fall mainly inside Cibola County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 23,147 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $85,346 at the median in Acomita Lake, $33,239 in Paraje. Median rent ranges from $529 in Pinehill to $851 in Milan. None of the 33 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants | city | 8,951 | $47,183 | $783 | 18 mi |
| Milan | village | 2,327 | $36,133 | $851 | 19 mi |
| Paraje | CDP | 1,333 | $33,239 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Skyline-Ganipa | CDP | 1,226 | $56,992 | $788 | 23 mi |
| San Rafael | CDP | 1,039 | $83,423 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Las Tusas | CDP | 999 | $58,627 | n/a | 26 mi |
| McCartys Village | CDP | 723 | $45,438 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Pinehill | CDP | 664 | $45,417 | $529 | 24 mi |
| San Mateo | CDP | 602 | $77,745 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Acomita Lake | CDP | 590 | $85,346 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Seama | CDP | 538 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
| Seboyeta | CDP | 517 | $44,638 | n/a | 39 mi |
| Mesita | CDP | 514 | n/a | n/a | 39 mi |
| Lobo Canyon | CDP | 492 | $91,506 | n/a | 26 mi |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Six nearby counties, 48 to 88 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Sandoval County leads the group on income ($86,636), Socorro County trails ($36,570), and Cibola County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cibola County | - | $50,759 | $759/mo | 76% |
| McKinley County, NM | 48 mi | $47,668 | $859/mo | 70% |
| Valencia County, NM | 69 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
| Catron County, NM | 74 mi | $49,864 | $736/mo | 94% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 75 mi | $69,473 | $1,144/mo | 65% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 82 mi | $86,636 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| Socorro County, NM | 88 mi | $36,570 | $691/mo | 75% |
Who lives in Cibola County, in numbers
17% of Cibola County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.9%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| Indicator | Cibola County | +/- New Mexico | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | -14.0 pts | -5.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 28.4% | +10.6 pts | +15.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.5% | +4.5 pts | +6.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 9.1% | +3.5 pts | +3.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 15.3% | +3.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | +2.3 pts | +4.1 pts |
| Work from home | 13.4% | +1.2 pts | +4.7 pts |
| Median age | 40.0 | +0.6 yrs | -1.5 yrs |
| One-way commute | Share of Cibola County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
$4,230 a month: the Cibola County median budget
Cibola County's $50,759 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $50,759 a year is $4,230 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $759 uses 18%
- At 36%, room after rent is $764 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cibola County's.
Reading the Cibola County data as a borrower
Where the Cibola County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Car trouble. For Cibola County drivers (22% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Mobile homes in Cibola County. At 24% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Help that costs nothing. About 7,624 Cibola County residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
Checklist for Cibola County applicants
A short checklist for Cibola County borrowers:
- Price the Cibola County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the New Mexico license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Verifying a lender from Cibola County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cibola County, check the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. State-level detail for Cibola County borrowers is in the New Mexico guide.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Cibola County:
Frequently asked questions
Is $50,759 a good income in Cibola County?
It is the county median, so half of Cibola County households earn more and half less; 22% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Cibola County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $759 a month; 55% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Cibola County?
By population: Grants, Milan, Paraje, Skyline-Ganipa, San Rafael. The county has 33 Census places in all.
Will a Cibola County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New Mexico as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cibola 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.