Here Are The 10 Poorest Counties In New Mexico
Juliet White
Author
New Mexico is a beautiful, culturally rich state with much to offer. However, poverty is a serious problem in the Land of Enchantment, and the poorest cities in New Mexico suffer from high rates of it. According to a 2014 Business Insider article, New Mexico is the second poorest state in the nation, after Mississippi. The poverty rate here is 22%, and in the poorest counties in New Mexico, the rates can be even higher. Using Metasalary, which relies on census data, these places have the greatest level of financial hardship in our state.
The per capita salary here is 58.8% lower than the national average. Read more about Socorro, New Mexico.
Socorro, Hidalgo and Torrance counties have similar economic statistics. This list is primarily arranged by per capita income, which is what determined their ranking here. Check out more about Torrance County, New Mexico.
The median household income here is higher than that in the three counties above it, but the per capita salary drops an additional 10 percent below the national average. Find out more about Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
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Per capita income is 80% below the national average here. Check out more about Deming, New Mexico.
Does this data confirm your own experiences with the poorest counties in New Mexico? Or were you surprised by some of the counties on this list? These places also contain some of the poorest cities in New Mexico, although that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to love about these areas. Share your thoughts in the comments.
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More to Explore
Poorest Counties in New Mexico
What are the richest counties in New Mexico?
Once you've learned all about the poorest counties in New Mexico, you might find yourself wondering about the places with the most money. Check out the richest counties in New Mexico, starting with Los Alamos County. The median household income here is $103,643, so the people of this community clearly do well for themselves. The second wealthiest county is Santa Fe County. The median income for households here is $52,696.
What are the safest cities in New Mexico?
When you're thinking about where to make your home in the Land of Enchantment, especially if you have kids, you're probably curious about where the safest cities in New Mexico are. For a town that's on the small side but not too tiny, head to Sunland Park. The population is over 15,000 there and still, there are nearly no violent crimes at all. For a bigger city that still has low crime, Rio Rancho is a great choice. It has about 94,000 people and features a violent crime rate that is over 41% lower than the average in the United States.
What are the most dangerous places in New Mexico?
While it's always good to know where to go to stay safe, it can also be very useful to know where some of the most dangerous places in New Mexico are. Española has the highest crime rate in the state, with 1 in 9 people becoming victims, so it is considered the most dangerous place to live. Gallup is next up, with an only slightly lowered rate, almost identical. This, of course, is not to say that these areas don't have plenty of good qualities, but you might want to be careful if you're walking around after dark.