1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grant County household earns $44,958, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Grant County, NM: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Grant County
- Jobs and commutes in Grant County
- What it costs to live in Grant County
- The communities that make up Grant County
- Grant County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Grant County median
- Before borrowing in Grant County
- More Grant County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Grant County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grant County, NM: the basics
Roughly 27,775 residents live in Grant County, New Mexico, 15th by population among the state's 33 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 3,961 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Silver City is the biggest of its 26 Census places, at roughly 9,536 people (34% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Grant County
Grant County households have a median income of $44,958 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 32 in New Mexico.
| Households earning | Grant County | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.3% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -4.2 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. 19.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 17.8%). A household earning below the $44,958 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Grant County
Education and health care employs 32% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 26%). The survey's unemployment rate for Grant County averages 8.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Grant County share | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.8% | +6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -4.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.2% | +3.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Grant County
A typical Grant County rental runs $825 a month including utilities, which is 23% below New Mexico. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $175,600, a typical Grant County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Grant County households own their home and 24% rent. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Grant County | New Mexico | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $825/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,600 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
Because most Grant County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The communities that make up Grant County
26 Census places fall mainly inside Grant County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 20,258 residents, leaving about 27% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,477 in Bayard to $125,175 in Little Walnut Village. Rent is cheapest in Santa Clara ($543) and steepest in Silver City ($866). No Grant County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 26.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver City | town | 9,536 | $38,711 | $866 | 7 mi |
| Bayard | city | 2,057 | $34,477 | $716 | 15 mi |
| Santa Clara | village | 1,809 | $57,898 | $543 | 14 mi |
| Little Walnut Village | CDP | 1,445 | $125,175 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Arenas Valley | CDP | 1,247 | $44,300 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Hurley | town | 1,044 | $36,202 | $545 | 15 mi |
| Tyrone | CDP | 814 | $47,031 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Gila | CDP | 366 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Mimbres | CDP | 330 | $66,250 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Hanover | CDP | 263 | $31,000 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Rosedale | CDP | 252 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| San Lorenzo | CDP | 219 | $71,167 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Casas Adobes | CDP | 195 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| White Signal | CDP | 177 | $96,625 | n/a | 12 mi |
Grant County and the counties next door
Luna County is closest, 53 miles from center to center; the sixth, Graham County, is 88 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Grant County; Greenlee County is highest at $71,164 and Luna County lowest at $36,419. The list crosses into Arizona, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $44,958 | $825/mo | 76% |
| Luna County, NM | 53 mi | $36,419 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 61 mi | $71,164 | $648/mo | 53% |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 62 mi | $48,882 | $814/mo | 81% |
| Sierra County, NM | 74 mi | $41,600 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Catron County, NM | 81 mi | $49,864 | $736/mo | 94% |
| Graham County, AZ | 88 mi | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Grant County median
Grant County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $44,958 a year is $3,746 of gross monthly income
- 22% goes to median rent ($825)
- At 40%, room after rent is $674 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Grant County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grant County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Grant County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Grant County loan.
More Grant County figures
31% of Grant County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Grant County | New Mexico | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.7% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.4% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Grant County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Licensing and complaints for Grant County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Grant 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. More on New Mexico: New Mexico personal loans.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Grant County borrowers:
- Price the Grant County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grant County a high-income county?
Its $44,958 median ranks 27th of 32 New Mexico counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Grant County?
$825 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Should Grant County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Grant County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Silver City?
Yes, along with the other 25 Census places in Grant County, such as Bayard, Santa Clara, Little Walnut Village.
Does living in Grant County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Grant County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.