1st Advantage MortgageDoña Ana County households have a median income of $56,848 and median rent of $934 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Doña Ana County
- What Doña Ana County households earn
- Housing costs in Doña Ana County
- Jobs and commutes in Doña Ana County
- Counties near Doña Ana County
- The communities that make up Doña Ana County
- A Doña Ana County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Doña Ana County
- Who lives in Doña Ana County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Doña Ana County residents
- A Doña Ana County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County is home to about 224,266 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 2nd most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. Land area is 3,808 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 59 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Las Cruces, NM metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 30 places in the county (5 incorporated, 25 census-designated); the largest is Las Cruces, with about 114,197 residents, or 51% of the county.
What Doña Ana County households earn
The median household income in Doña Ana County is $56,848; statewide it is $64,059, so Doña Ana County runs 11% below New Mexico as a whole.
| Households earning | Doña Ana County | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -2.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Doña Ana County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 21.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 17.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.478 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $56,848 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Doña Ana County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $934 in Doña Ana County versus $1,067 statewide. By the Census definition, 54% of Doña Ana County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $220,800, or 3.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%. Half the housing stock was built before 1991.
| Home costs | Doña Ana County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $934/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $220,800 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.0% | 15.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 12% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Jobs and commutes in Doña Ana County
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 10%. Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 26% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.8% in Doña Ana County. About 75% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Doña Ana County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.9% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Doña Ana County
Distances run center to center, from El Paso County at 53 miles out to Hudspeth County at 106. Income ranges from $36,419 in Luna County to $59,806 in El Paso County; 1 of these neighbors top Doña Ana County's median. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doña Ana County | - | $56,848 | $934/mo | 65% |
| El Paso County, TX | 53 mi | $59,806 | $1,079/mo | 64% |
| Luna County, NM | 55 mi | $36,419 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Sierra County, NM | 57 mi | $41,600 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Otero County, NM | 66 mi | $55,876 | $962/mo | 67% |
| Grant County, NM | 94 mi | $44,958 | $825/mo | 76% |
| Hudspeth County, TX | 106 mi | $48,600 | $705/mo | 74% |
The communities that make up Doña Ana County
30 Census places fall mainly inside Doña Ana County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 191,918 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Picacho Hills has the highest median household income on the list ($120,850) and University Park the lowest ($30,156), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $462 in Placitas to $1,385 in White Sands. No Doña Ana County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 30.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | city | 114,197 | $55,422 | $974 | 3 mi |
| Chaparral | CDP | 18,186 | $46,017 | $853 | 33 mi |
| Sunland Park | city | 17,463 | $62,814 | $920 | 39 mi |
| Anthony | city | 8,767 | $38,132 | $561 | 27 mi |
| Santa Teresa | CDP | 6,041 | $63,161 | $1,356 | 34 mi |
| Vado | CDP | 2,895 | $37,411 | $756 | 19 mi |
| University Park | CDP | 2,782 | $30,156 | $792 | 7 mi |
| San Ysidro | CDP | 2,118 | $89,473 | $916 | 1 mi |
| Picacho Hills | CDP | 2,002 | $120,850 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Radium Springs | CDP | 1,908 | $43,836 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Mesilla | town | 1,717 | $74,750 | $994 | 6 mi |
| White Sands | CDP | 1,609 | $89,565 | $1,385 | 21 mi |
| Hatch | village | 1,588 | $43,486 | $503 | 29 mi |
| Berino | CDP | 1,454 | $39,907 | n/a | 23 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Doña Ana County household budget, worked through
Here is the Doña Ana County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Doña Ana County: $4,737
- Rent at the median, $934, takes 20% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $961 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Doña Ana County's.
Before borrowing in Doña Ana County
A few patterns in the Doña Ana County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Who lives in Doña Ana County, in numbers
32% of Doña Ana County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Doña Ana County | All of New Mexico | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.7% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.6% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.3% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Who licenses lenders for Doña Ana County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Doña Ana County, check the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The New Mexico guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Doña Ana County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Doña Ana County:
- Price the Doña Ana County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Doña Ana County-area credit union.
- Verify the New Mexico license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New Mexico guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Doña Ana County?
$56,848 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 12th of 32 in the state.
What do renters pay in Doña Ana County?
$934 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I live in a small Doña Ana County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Las Cruces, Chaparral, Sunland Park, Anthony, Santa Teresa and 25 more.
Can Doña Ana 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.
Is there a Doña Ana County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New Mexico it is the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division.