1st Advantage MortgageIn Sierra County, New Mexico, the typical household earns $41,600 a year and the typical rent is $729. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Sierra County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Sierra County in brief
- Renting and owning in Sierra County
- Work, industries and travel time in Sierra County
- What stands out in Sierra County
- How much Sierra County households make
- Regional comparison for Sierra County
- Census places in Sierra County
- Reading the Sierra County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Sierra County
- People and households in Sierra County
- Before you sign
- New Mexico lender licensing
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Sierra County in brief
Sierra County is home to about 11,500 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 25th most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. It covers 4,181 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sierra County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 11 Census places inside Sierra County, Truth or Consequences leads by population with about 6,019; 3 of the 11 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Sierra County
Sierra County rent at the median: $729 a month, utilities in ($1,067 in New Mexico). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 51% in Sierra County, 50% statewide. With a median value of $152,600, a typical Sierra County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Sierra County households own their home and 28% rent. Median construction year: 1983.
| Home costs | Sierra County | New Mexico | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 41.4% | 15.5% | +25.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 34% | 12% | +21.2 pts |
| Median home value | $152,600 | $248,100 | 38% lower |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | -3.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $729/mo | $1,067/mo | 32% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | +1.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 50% | +0.8 pts |
With rent burdens at 51%, keep any Sierra County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Work, industries and travel time in Sierra County
The biggest employer of Sierra County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). Sierra County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 9% versus 4% in New Mexico. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 7.3% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Sierra County workers | vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.2% | +4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.2% | +5.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -4.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What stands out in Sierra County
Where Sierra County lands at the extremes of New Mexico's county rankings:
- Sierra County ranks 2nd highest of 33 New Mexico counties for the share of mobile homes: 41.4%, against 15.5% statewide. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- Sierra County ranks 2nd highest of 33 New Mexico counties for median age: 57.6, against 39.4 statewide. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- On the share of households earning $100,000 or more, Sierra County sits near the bottom of New Mexico at 16%, 3rd lowest of 33. Few six-figure households means smaller loans are the norm.
- Sierra County ranks 3rd lowest of 32 New Mexico counties for median household income: $41,600, against $64,059 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
How much Sierra County households make
$41,600 is the median household income for Sierra County, set against $64,059 for New Mexico. That places it 30th among New Mexico's 32 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Sierra County | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.8% | +14.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.9% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.2% | -7.6 pts |
Some 43% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 16% have six-figure incomes. Sierra County counts about 2,459 residents below the poverty line, 21.4% of the population. Sierra County scores 0.423 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $41,600 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Regional comparison for Sierra County
Six nearby counties, 57 to 90 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $36,419 in Luna County to $56,848 in Doña Ana County; 4 of these neighbors top Sierra County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra County | - | $41,600 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Doña Ana County, NM | 57 mi | $56,848 | $934/mo | 65% |
| Socorro County, NM | 62 mi | $36,570 | $691/mo | 75% |
| Luna County, NM | 72 mi | $36,419 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Grant County, NM | 74 mi | $44,958 | $825/mo | 76% |
| Catron County, NM | 88 mi | $49,864 | $736/mo | 94% |
| Otero County, NM | 90 mi | $55,876 | $962/mo | 67% |
Census places in Sierra County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Sierra County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 9,638 residents, leaving about 16% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. From Truth or Consequences to the smallest crossroads, Sierra County residents share this guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truth or Consequences | city | 6,019 | $33,788 | $714 | 10 mi |
| Elephant Butte | city | 1,790 | $53,482 | $1,089 | 5 mi |
| Arrey | CDP | 491 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Williamsburg | village | 466 | $29,250 | $424 | 6 mi |
| Las Palomas | CDP | 304 | $73,864 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Caballo | CDP | 233 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Hillsboro | CDP | 150 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Hot Springs Landing | CDP | 110 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Oasis | CDP | 75 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Kingston | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 33 mi |
| Winston | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 31 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Reading the Sierra County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Sierra County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 41% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 57.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Sierra County loan.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Sierra County
Sierra County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Sierra County: $3,467
- Housing at the median rent of $729 uses 21%
- At 43%, room after rent is $762 a month
A household below the $41,600 median has less room than this, often none.
People and households in Sierra County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17% of Sierra County adults. The uninsured rate is 4.1%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| Sierra County | vs New Mexico | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6 | +18.2 yrs | +16.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | -14.0 pts | -5.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | -5.5 pts | -3.7 pts |
| Work from home | 8.2% | -4.0 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 21.4% | +3.5 pts | +8.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | -1.8 pts | -0.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | +1.7 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | -1.1 pts | n/a |
| Minutes to work | Sierra County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Sierra County:
- Price the Sierra County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sierra County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
New Mexico lender licensing
Before sharing details with a lender, a Sierra County resident can confirm its license with the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The New Mexico page has statewide figures to set beside Sierra County's.
Keep exploring
No city in Sierra County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $41,600 a good income in Sierra County?
It is the county median, so half of Sierra County households earn more and half less; 16% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Sierra County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $729 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Sierra County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 72% of Sierra County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Is Winston covered?
Yes. Winston is one of 11 Census places in Sierra County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does living in Sierra County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Sierra County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.