1st Advantage MortgageIn San Miguel County, New Mexico, the typical household earns $49,431 a year and the typical rent is $823. 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
- San Miguel County by the numbers
- San Miguel County housing compared with New Mexico
- Household income in San Miguel County
- Employment and commuting in San Miguel County
- San Miguel County and the counties next door
- San Miguel County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at San Miguel County's medians
- Who lives in San Miguel County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in San Miguel County
- A San Miguel County borrower's checklist
- New Mexico rules that apply in San Miguel County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Miguel County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts San Miguel County's population at 26,850; only 15 of New Mexico's 33 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 4,722 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 6 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Las Vegas is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 13,000 people (48% of the county total).
San Miguel County housing compared with New Mexico
Renters in San Miguel County pay a median of $823 a month, 23% below the New Mexico figure of $1,067. By the Census definition, 56% of San Miguel County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $188,500, or 3.8 years of median income. 73% of San Miguel County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Cost | San Miguel County | New Mexico figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $823/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $188,500 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 29% | n/a |
Because most San Miguel 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Household income in San Miguel County
The median household income in San Miguel County is $49,431; statewide it is $64,059, so San Miguel County runs 23% below New Mexico as a whole. In the state ranking that is 22nd of 32.
| Yearly household income | San Miguel County | Gap to New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.4% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.0% | -3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -5.4 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 24.4% of San Miguel County residents in poverty, against 17.8% across New Mexico. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.472 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a San Miguel County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in San Miguel County
Education and health care employs 39% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 39% locally and 26% for New Mexico. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Where residents work | San Miguel County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 39.0% | +13.3 pts |
| Public administration | 11.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -4.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.1% | +0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in San Miguel County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
San Miguel County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (36 to 79 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than San Miguel County; Santa Fe County is highest at $79,071 and Quay County lowest at $41,946.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel County | - | $49,431 | $823/mo | 73% |
| Mora County, NM | 36 mi | $53,663 | $887/mo | 87% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 42 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
| Harding County, NM | 60 mi | $48,553 | $1,038/mo | 77% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 65 mi | $79,071 | $1,389/mo | 72% |
| Quay County, NM | 75 mi | $41,946 | $712/mo | 72% |
| Colfax County, NM | 79 mi | $53,554 | $729/mo | 72% |
San Miguel County towns compared
14 Census places fall mainly inside San Miguel County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 17,279 residents, leaving about 36% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,125 in Las Vegas to $115,976 in Rowe. Live in one of these San Miguel County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | city | 13,000 | $45,125 | $792 | 25 mi |
| Pecos | village | 1,204 | $88,490 | $1,044 | 50 mi |
| East Pecos | CDP | 643 | n/a | n/a | 48 mi |
| Rowe | CDP | 516 | $115,976 | n/a | 49 mi |
| Tecolotito | CDP | 465 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Villanueva | CDP | 283 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
| Conchas Dam | CDP | 282 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
| North San Ysidro | CDP | 210 | n/a | n/a | 43 mi |
| Ribera | CDP | 162 | $56,326 | n/a | 37 mi |
| Sena | CDP | 155 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
| Tecolote | CDP | 126 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
| San Jose | CDP | 87 | n/a | n/a | 38 mi |
| Pueblo | CDP | 86 | n/a | n/a | 37 mi |
| Soham | CDP | 60 | n/a | n/a | 39 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at San Miguel County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a San Miguel County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $49,431 a year is $4,119 of gross monthly income
- 20% goes to median rent ($823)
- $619: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,031 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in San Miguel County, in numbers
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. 7.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | San Miguel County | New Mexico statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.4% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of San Miguel County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
Borrowing situations common in San Miguel County
What the San Miguel County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 30% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 24% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A San Miguel County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in San Miguel County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in San Miguel County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Ask a San Miguel County credit union about member loans.
New Mexico rules that apply in San Miguel County
San Miguel County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: New Mexico guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical San Miguel County household make?
About $49,431 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the New Mexico median.
What do renters pay in San Miguel County?
$823 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I own my home in San Miguel County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Las Vegas?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in San Miguel County, such as Pecos, East Pecos, Rowe.
Will a San Miguel County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New Mexico as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.