1st Advantage MortgageIn Torrance County, New Mexico, the typical household earns $57,842 a year and the typical rent is $872. 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
- Who lives in Torrance County
- How Torrance County residents earn a living
- How much Torrance County households make
- Torrance County housing compared with New Mexico
- Torrance County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Torrance County
- More Torrance County figures
- Before borrowing in Torrance County
- Debt-to-income at Torrance County's medians
- Lender oversight for Torrance County
- A Torrance County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Torrance County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Torrance County's population at 15,490; only 22 of New Mexico's 33 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 3,345 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.6 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Albuquerque, NM metropolitan area. Of the 13 Census places inside Torrance County, Moriarty leads by population with about 2,102; 5 of the 13 are incorporated.
How Torrance County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.0% in Torrance County. About 77% drive to work alone and 39% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (5.6% statewide).
| Top industries | Torrance County share | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -6.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 10.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +4.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How much Torrance County households make
Half of Torrance County households take in less than $57,842 a year and half take in more, 10% below the New Mexico median of $64,059. In the state ranking that is 9th of 32.
| Households earning | Torrance County | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.5% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.8% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -3.5 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.3%, the same as the state's 17.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.456 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Torrance County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Torrance County housing compared with New Mexico
Renters in Torrance County pay a median of $872 a month, 18% below the New Mexico figure of $1,067. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $159,700, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 82%. The median year built is 1987.
| Measure | Torrance County | New Mexico | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $872/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,700 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Torrance County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Torrance County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Torrance County's, from 53 to 71 miles away. Income ranges from $36,570 in Socorro County to $79,071 in Santa Fe County; 3 of these neighbors top Torrance County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance County | - | $57,842 | $872/mo | 82% |
| Valencia County, NM | 53 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 56 mi | $69,473 | $1,144/mo | 65% |
| Lincoln County, NM | 62 mi | $53,303 | $956/mo | 77% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 66 mi | $79,071 | $1,389/mo | 72% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 66 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
| Socorro County, NM | 71 mi | $36,570 | $691/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Torrance County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Torrance County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 7,886 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. McIntosh has the highest median household income on the list ($56,566) and Moriarty the lowest ($31,650), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moriarty | city | 2,102 | $31,650 | $743 | 32 mi |
| McIntosh | CDP | 1,943 | $56,566 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Estancia | town | 1,432 | $53,846 | $843 | 17 mi |
| Mountainair | town | 1,178 | $43,021 | $832 | 20 mi |
| Indian Hills | CDP | 622 | $42,222 | n/a | 33 mi |
| Willard | village | 248 | $63,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Tajique | CDP | 130 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
| Torreon | CDP | 125 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Punta de Agua | CDP | 46 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
| Encino | village | 31 | n/a | n/a | 25 mi |
| Deer Canyon | CDP | 29 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Duran | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
| Manzano | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
More Torrance County figures
17% of Torrance County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.8%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| Measure | Torrance County | New Mexico statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.1% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.7% |
| 60+ min | 24.9% |
Before borrowing in Torrance County
What the Torrance County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 39% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 46% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Torrance County loan.
Debt-to-income at Torrance County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Torrance County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,820 gross per month ($57,842 / 12)
- Median rent: $872, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $815 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,297 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Torrance County's.
Lender oversight for Torrance County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Torrance 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.
A Torrance County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the New Mexico license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Torrance County?
$57,842 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 9th of 32 in the state.
Is Torrance County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $872 against $1,067 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Moriarty?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in Torrance County, such as McIntosh, Estancia, Mountainair.
Is the fit check different in Torrance County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Torrance County residents?
The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division licenses consumer lenders in New Mexico; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.