1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $46,694 and median rent of $683 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Union County
- How much Union County households make
- The Union County job picture
- Housing costs in Union County
- How Union County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Union County
- What a median Union County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Union County
- Union County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
- More guides for Union County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Union County
With an estimated 4,013 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Union County ranks 30th of 33 in New Mexico for population. It covers 3,825 square miles of land, or about 1 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Union County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Union County, Clayton leads by population with about 2,753; 4 of the 5 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Union County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Union County households make
Half of Union County households take in less than $46,694 a year and half take in more, 27% below the New Mexico median of $64,059. In the state ranking that is 26th of 32.
| Households earning | Union County | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.7% | +13.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.7% | -10.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -3.6 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.6% of Union County residents in poverty, against 17.8% across New Mexico. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.649 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $46,694 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Union County job picture
The biggest employer of Union County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 21% of workers, followed by education and health care (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Union County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.5% | +17.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.5% | -11.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +2.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Union County
A typical Union County rental runs $683 a month including utilities, which is 36% below New Mexico. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. With a median value of $122,700, a typical Union County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Median construction year: 1961.
| Home costs | Union County | New Mexico | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $683/mo | $1,067/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,700 | $248,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 12% | 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).
How Union County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (48 to 66 miles). Income ranges from $48,553 in Harding County to $75,841 in Hartley County; all six of these neighbors top Union County's median. Some neighbors are in Colorado and Oklahoma and Texas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Union County resident follows New Mexico rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $46,694 | $683/mo | 72% |
| Harding County, NM | 48 mi | $48,553 | $1,038/mo | 77% |
| Dallam County, TX | 51 mi | $71,500 | $1,081/mo | 64% |
| Cimarron County, OK | 56 mi | $62,188 | $718/mo | 78% |
| Colfax County, NM | 65 mi | $53,554 | $729/mo | 72% |
| Las Animas County, CO | 65 mi | $52,074 | $891/mo | 69% |
| Hartley County, TX | 66 mi | $75,841 | $1,028/mo | 74% |
Places inside Union County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Union County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 3,073 residents, leaving about 23% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Union County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | town | 2,753 | $34,500 | $652 | 18 mi |
| Des Moines | village | 174 | $63,864 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Capulin | CDP | 79 | $34,464 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Grenville | village | 56 | $115,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Folsom | village | 11 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
What a median Union County budget can carry
Union County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,891 before taxes
- Median rent: $683, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $990 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Union County
Based on the Union County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Union County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Consolidating cards in Union County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Union County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.4%, against 9.6% for New Mexico.
| Indicator | Union County | All of New Mexico | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 17.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Union County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 72.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 9.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Union County:
- 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.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
Union 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.
More guides for Union County
The New Mexico guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Union County?
$46,694 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 26th of 32 in the state.
How does Union County rent compare with New Mexico?
$683 locally versus $1,067 for the state, 36% below.
Does this page cover Clayton?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Union County, such as Des Moines, Capulin, Grenville.
Can Union County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New Mexico county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Union County check a lender's license?
With the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.