1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mora County household earns $53,663, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Mora County
- Renting and owning in Mora County
- Household income in Mora County
- Employment and commuting in Mora County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mora County
- Regional comparison for Mora County
- Budget math at the Mora County median
- Mora County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Mora County
- Lender oversight for Mora County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Mora County
Mora County is home to about 4,149 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. Spread over 1,926 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.2 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mora County is not part of any metropolitan area. Wagon Mound is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 557 people (13% of the county total). Because Mora County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Mora County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $887 in Mora County versus $1,067 statewide. 18% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 2% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $122,600, about 2.3 times the median household income. 87% of Mora County households own their home and 13% rent.
| Home costs | Mora County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $887/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,600 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 18% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.4% | 15.5% | n/a |
Because most Mora 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 Mora County
At $53,663, the typical Mora County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 15th among New Mexico's 32 county-level areas.
| Band | Mora County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.2% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.4% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Mora County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.4% of Mora County residents in poverty, against 17.8% across New Mexico. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mora County median.
Employment and commuting in Mora County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 22%. Public administration stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Mora County. 40% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 2.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Mora County workers | vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 22.3% | +15.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -3.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mora County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 27% of Mora County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagon Mound | village | 557 | $43,672 | $769 | 12 mi |
| Mora | CDP | 520 | $72,218 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Watrous | CDP | 42 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Mora County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Mora County's, from 36 to 77 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Mora County; Santa Fe County is highest at $79,071 and Guadalupe County lowest at $42,750.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mora County | - | $53,663 | $887/mo | 87% |
| San Miguel County, NM | 36 mi | $49,431 | $823/mo | 73% |
| Colfax County, NM | 46 mi | $53,554 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Taos County, NM | 57 mi | $58,950 | $1,034/mo | 78% |
| Harding County, NM | 60 mi | $48,553 | $1,038/mo | 77% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 67 mi | $79,071 | $1,389/mo | 72% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 77 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Mora County median
How much room does a median Mora County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Mora County: $4,472
- Rent at the median, $887, takes 20% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $1,789 total minus rent leaves $902
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Mora County households compared
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 2.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Mora County | New Mexico statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.1 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.3% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.0% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.4% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Mora County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 13.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 29.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Mora County
Where the Mora County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 40% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Mora County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 24% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Mora County's median age is 55.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Lender oversight for Mora County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Mora County resident can confirm its license with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on New Mexico: New Mexico personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Mora County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Mora County-area credit union.
- Verify the New Mexico license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New Mexico guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mora County household make?
About $53,663 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 16% below the New Mexico median.
What do renters pay in Mora County?
$887 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Wagon Mound?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Mora County, such as Mora, Watrous.
Are Mora 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.
Where can someone in Mora County check a lender's license?
With the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.