1st Advantage Mortgage24% of Harding County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $48,553 (ACS 2020-24). 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
- Harding County in brief
- Harding County against other New Mexico counties
- Rent, home values and ownership in Harding County
- Household income in Harding County
- Jobs and commutes in Harding County
- Roy and the rest of Harding County
- Harding County and the counties next door
- A Harding County household budget, worked through
- More Harding County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Harding County
- Checklist for Harding County applicants
- New Mexico lender licensing
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Harding County in brief
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Harding County's population at 741; only 32 of New Mexico's 33 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 0.3 residents per square mile across 2,125 square miles of land. No metropolitan area includes Harding County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Roy, about 302 residents (41% of Harding County); 2 Census places in all. Because Harding County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Harding County against other New Mexico counties
Where Harding County lands at the extremes of New Mexico's county rankings:
- The share of workers who work from home: 2.8% in Harding County, the lowest of 33 in New Mexico. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- On median home value, Harding County sits near the bottom of New Mexico at $70,000, the lowest of 33. With modest home values, equity borrowing is rarely large.
- On population, Harding County sits near the bottom of New Mexico at 741, the lowest of 33. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
Rent, home values and ownership in Harding County
$1,038 a month is the median gross rent in Harding County, 3% below the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 25% in Harding County, 50% statewide. Harding County homes are worth $70,000 at the median, a 1.4-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1960. Nationally, Harding County's $1,038 rent is 18% above the middle county.
| Cost | Harding County | New Mexico figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 25% | 50% | -25.2 pts |
| Median home value | $70,000 | $248,100 | 72% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 70% | +7.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 29% | +2.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,038/mo | $1,067/mo | 3% lower |
Because most Harding 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.
Household income in Harding County
Half of Harding County households take in less than $48,553 a year and half take in more, 24% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
| Yearly household income | Harding County | Gap to New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.6% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.5% | -11.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.6% | +4.8 pts |
Six-figure households (24%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (34%) in Harding County. 19.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 17.8%). For a borrower in Harding County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Harding County
The biggest employer of Harding County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 39% of workers, followed by public administration (18%). Harding County over-indexes on education and health care: 39% versus 26% in New Mexico. Averaged over the five survey years, 15.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 56% of Harding County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 22% need 45 or more. 22 Harding County households, 7.7%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Harding County workers | vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 39.4% | +13.7 pts |
| Public administration | 18.5% | +11.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.8% | -8.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Roy and the rest of Harding County
327 of Harding County's 741 residents live in its 2 Census places (44%); the 2 largest are listed. Live in one of these Harding County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy | village | 302 | $43,203 | $1,063 | 20 mi |
| Mosquero | village | 25 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Harding County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (48 to 70 miles). Harding County's $48,553 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $41,946 (Quay County) to $75,841 (Hartley County). The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding County | - | $48,553 | $1,038/mo | 77% |
| Union County, NM | 48 mi | $46,694 | $683/mo | 72% |
| Quay County, NM | 55 mi | $41,946 | $712/mo | 72% |
| San Miguel County, NM | 60 mi | $49,431 | $823/mo | 73% |
| Mora County, NM | 60 mi | $53,663 | $887/mo | 87% |
| Colfax County, NM | 68 mi | $53,554 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Hartley County, TX | 70 mi | $75,841 | $1,028/mo | 74% |
A Harding County household budget, worked through
Harding County's $48,553 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Monthly gross at the median, Harding County: $4,046
- 26% goes to median rent ($1,038)
- $702: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Harding County figures
College graduates make up 33% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 1.2% of Harding County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Harding County | Difference from New Mexico | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 2.8% | -9.4 pts | -5.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 15.3% | +9.3 pts | +10.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 1.2% | -8.4 pts | -6.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | -3.9 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 42.5 | +3.1 yrs | +1.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.3% | +2.4 pts | +11.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | +1.6 pts | +6.3 pts |
Local borrowing considerations for Harding County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Harding County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Harding County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 26% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Checklist for Harding County applicants
A short checklist for Harding County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
New Mexico lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Harding County borrowers answers to the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The New Mexico page has statewide figures to set beside Harding County's.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Harding County household make?
About $48,553 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the New Mexico median.
What is the median rent in Harding County, NM?
$1,038 a month, utilities included, or $12,456 a year.
I live near Roy. Which guide is mine?
This one. Roy and the rest of Harding County have no separate city guide.
Are Harding County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
What agency protects Harding County borrowers?
The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division at the state level and the CFPB federally.