1st Advantage MortgageIn Quay County, New Mexico, the typical household earns $41,946 a year and the typical rent is $712. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Quay County
- Quay County housing compared with New Mexico
- What Quay County households earn
- How Quay County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Quay County
- Quay County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Quay County median
- Who lives in Quay County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Quay County borrowers
- A Quay County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Quay County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Quay County
With an estimated 8,564 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Quay County ranks 26th of 33 in New Mexico for population. It covers 2,874 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Quay County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Tucumcari is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 5,160 people (60% of the county total). Because Quay County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Quay County housing compared with New Mexico
A typical Quay County rental runs $712 a month including utilities, which is 33% below New Mexico. By the Census definition, 56% of Quay County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $87,200, or 2.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Median construction year: 1966.
| Home costs | Quay County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $712/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $87,200 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 41% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.1% | 15.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 12% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
What Quay County households earn
At $41,946, the typical Quay County household income is 36% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 28 New Mexico counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Quay County | vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.1% | +16.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.0% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -3.5 pts |
Some 45% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 27.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 17.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.543 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 Quay County median.
How Quay County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Quay County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (15%). Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.4% in Quay County. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Where residents work | Quay County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.8% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.4% | +4.9 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +3.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Quay County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Quay County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 6,244 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Quay County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucumcari | city | 5,160 | $31,844 | $704 | 10 mi |
| Logan | village | 740 | $34,271 | $1,080 | 18 mi |
| Nara Visa | CDP | 151 | $31,111 | n/a | 43 mi |
| San Jon | village | 102 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| House | village | 91 | $2,499 | n/a | 37 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Quay County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (39 to 72 miles). Income ranges from $42,750 in Guadalupe County to $79,900 in Oldham County; all six of these neighbors top Quay County's median. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quay County | - | $41,946 | $712/mo | 72% |
| Curry County, NM | 39 mi | $57,309 | $1,024/mo | 63% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 54 mi | $60,799 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Harding County, NM | 55 mi | $48,553 | $1,038/mo | 77% |
| Oldham County, TX | 57 mi | $79,900 | $1,111/mo | 74% |
| Parmer County, TX | 59 mi | $69,735 | $1,081/mo | 72% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 72 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Quay County median
How much room does a median Quay County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,496 gross per month ($41,946 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $712, takes 20% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $686 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Quay County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Quay County, in numbers
20% of Quay County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Quay County | New Mexico | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.7% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.1% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.4% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Quay County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 78.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 10.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 1.8% |
What the numbers mean for Quay County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Quay County borrowers.
- 22% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Quay County's median age is 48.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Free help first. 27% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 56% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Quay County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Quay County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Quay County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Quay County resident can confirm its license with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the New Mexico state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New Mexico guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Quay County earn?
The median is $41,946; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 45% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Quay County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $712 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Quay County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Quay County?
By population: Tucumcari, Logan, Nara Visa, San Jon, House. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Are Quay 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.