1st Advantage MortgageThe median Sandoval County household earns $86,636, and 10% 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
- Sandoval County, NM: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Sandoval County
- Paychecks and income spread in Sandoval County
- Housing costs in Sandoval County
- Counties near Sandoval County
- The communities that make up Sandoval County
- Room for a loan payment in Sandoval County
- Sandoval County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Sandoval County
- Who licenses lenders for Sandoval County residents
- Steps before you apply in Sandoval County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sandoval County, NM: the basics
Sandoval County is home to about 153,604 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. Spread over 3,710 square miles, that works out to roughly 41.4 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Albuquerque, NM metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (5 incorporated, 20 census-designated); the largest is Bernalillo, with about 9,086 residents, or 6% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Sandoval County
The biggest employer of Sandoval County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Compared with New Mexico, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (7% against 5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Sandoval County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). About 71% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.2% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Sector | Sandoval County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.9% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | -0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Sandoval County
Half of Sandoval County households take in less than $86,636 a year and half take in more, 35% above the New Mexico median of $64,059. In the state ranking that is 2nd of 32.
| Band | Sandoval County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.1% | -11.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | +8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.5% | +2.7 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.0% of Sandoval County residents in poverty, against 17.8% across New Mexico. None of these numbers decides a Sandoval County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Sandoval County
Renters in Sandoval County pay a median of $1,427 a month, 34% above the New Mexico figure of $1,067. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Home values center on $313,800, or 3.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 84%. Median construction year: 1997.
| Home costs | Sandoval County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,427/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $313,800 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.0% | 15.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Counties near Sandoval County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (35 to 77 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Sandoval County; Los Alamos County is highest at $147,139 and McKinley County lowest at $47,668.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandoval County | - | $86,636 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| Los Alamos County, NM | 35 mi | $147,139 | $1,375/mo | 75% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 45 mi | $69,473 | $1,144/mo | 65% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 53 mi | $79,071 | $1,389/mo | 72% |
| Rio Arriba County, NM | 58 mi | $57,155 | $740/mo | 80% |
| Valencia County, NM | 67 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
| McKinley County, NM | 77 mi | $47,668 | $859/mo | 70% |
The communities that make up Sandoval County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Sandoval County residents live in one of the 25. Incomes vary by place: $160,417 at the median in La Madera, $55,551 in Jemez Pueblo. Rent is cheapest in Peña Blanca ($99) and steepest in Placitas ($2,717). No Sandoval County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 25.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo | town | 9,086 | $63,880 | $902 | 32 mi |
| Corrales | village | 8,555 | $102,307 | $1,143 | 34 mi |
| Placitas | CDP | 4,223 | $109,750 | $2,717 | 35 mi |
| Santo Domingo Pueblo | CDP | 2,370 | $57,375 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Jemez Pueblo | CDP | 2,199 | $55,551 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rio Rancho Estates | CDP | 1,571 | $91,635 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Algodones | CDP | 1,479 | $67,994 | n/a | 31 mi |
| San Felipe Pueblo | CDP | 1,119 | n/a | n/a | 31 mi |
| Santa Ana Pueblo | CDP | 1,026 | $86,250 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Zia Pueblo | CDP | 770 | $56,518 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Cochiti | CDP | 680 | $85,548 | n/a | 30 mi |
| Torreon | CDP | 580 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Peña Blanca | CDP | 568 | $71,250 | $99 | 32 mi |
| La Madera | CDP | 532 | $160,417 | n/a | 44 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Sandoval County
Sandoval County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $7,220 gross per month ($86,636 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,427, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,100: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,822 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Sandoval County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Sandoval County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Sandoval County | New Mexico | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.8% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sandoval County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Sandoval County
A few patterns in the Sandoval County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Sandoval County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Higher earners. 42% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who licenses lenders for Sandoval County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Sandoval County borrowers answers to 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.
Steps before you apply in Sandoval County
Steps that save money for Sandoval County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Sandoval County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Sandoval County?
$86,636 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 2nd of 32 in the state.
How much is rent in Sandoval County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,427 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Sandoval County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Bernalillo, Corrales, Placitas, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo.
Is the fit check different in Sandoval County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Sandoval County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New Mexico it is the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division.