1st Advantage MortgageDe Baca County, New Mexico, has about 1,576 residents, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New Mexico before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in De Baca County
- Renting and owning in De Baca County
- How De Baca County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in De Baca County
- De Baca County next to its neighbors
- De Baca County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for De Baca County borrowers
- Lender oversight for De Baca County
- Before you sign
- More guides for De Baca County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in De Baca County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts De Baca County's population at 1,576; only 31 of New Mexico's 33 county-level areas are larger. It covers 2,323 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, De Baca County is not part of any metropolitan area. Fort Sumner is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 938 people (60% of the county total). Because De Baca County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in De Baca County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $387 in De Baca County versus $1,067 statewide. 71% of De Baca County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1977.
| Home costs | De Baca County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $387/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $187,500 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.4% | 15.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 35% | 12% | n/a |
How De Baca County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of De Baca County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 27% of workers, followed by transportation, warehousing and utilities (26%). Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (27% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.4% in De Baca County. About 87% drive to work alone and 3% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | De Baca County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 27.1% | +23.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 26.3% | +21.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 10.3% | -15.4 pts |
| Other services | 9.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in De Baca County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in De Baca County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in De Baca County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 1,024 people, so roughly 35% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Sumner | village | 938 | n/a | $387 | 12 mi |
| Lake Sumner | CDP | 86 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
De Baca County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (42 to 75 miles). Curry County leads the group on income ($57,309), Quay County trails ($41,946), and De Baca County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Baca County | - | n/a | $387/mo | 71% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 42 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 56 mi | $52,685 | $898/mo | 61% |
| Curry County, NM | 60 mi | $57,309 | $1,024/mo | 63% |
| Chaves County, NM | 69 mi | $52,938 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Quay County, NM | 70 mi | $41,946 | $712/mo | 72% |
| Lincoln County, NM | 75 mi | $53,303 | $956/mo | 77% |
De Baca County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 9% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 12.6%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| Indicator | De Baca County | All of New Mexico | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 9.3% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.4% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for De Baca County borrowers
A few patterns in the De Baca County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 20% of De Baca County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Lender oversight for De Baca County
De Baca County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: New Mexico guide.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for De Baca County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for De Baca County
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is De Baca County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $387 against $1,067 statewide.
I live in a small De Baca County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fort Sumner, Lake Sumner.
Can De Baca County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New Mexico county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in De Baca County?
Start with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.