New Mexico · GEOID 35053

Socorro County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 16,200 · 7,693 housing units

Median household income

$36,570

State $65,558

Median home value

$137,500

State $259,039

Median gross rent

$691

State $1,077

Homeownership rate

75.1%

State 70.0%

Renter cost-burden rate

62.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

2.1%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

31.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.76

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Socorro County	New Mexico
Population	16,200	2,120,246
Population density (per sq. mi.)	2.44	—
Median household income	$36,570	$65,558
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$50,000	—
Households	5,269	—
Average household size	2.94 people	—
Owner-occupied	75.1%	70.0%
Renter-occupied	24.9%	30.0%
Race	42.2% White · 0.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Socorro County compared with New Mexico.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

19.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 31.0%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	40.0%	$19,426	$486	$41,291
1 earner	30.7%	$44,624	$1,116	$135,086
2 earners	28.9%	$89,255	$2,231	$301,218
3+ earners	0.4%	—	—	—

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

5,269

Average size: 2.94 people

Households with children

739

14.0% of households

Per-capita income

$26,858

Poverty rate: 31.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

75.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 70.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 50.2% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 7.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

46.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,980.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $137,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $691.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,424 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.5% · For rent 3.4% · Seasonal 25.5% · Other 66.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

7.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 92.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

8.0%

619 units of 7,693 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

21.0%

1,617 units of 7,693 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$29,256

100% MHI$36,570

120% MHI$43,884

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Socorro County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$40,850	$46,650	$58,300
100% AMI	$35,000	$40,000	$50,000
120% AMI	$42,000	$48,000	$60,000

HUD FMR Area: Socorro County, NM. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

62.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (31.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Socorro County.

Covered employment

3,188

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

335

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$57,488

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,376	$63,580	$205,647	+$68,147	$1,590
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	485	$30,013	$80,699	−$56,801	$750
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	459	$67,846	$221,526	+$84,026	$1,696
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	304	$79,010	$263,083	+$125,583	$1,975
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	115	$47,795	$146,890	+$9,390	$1,195
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	103	$51,120	$159,266	+$21,766	$1,278
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	77	$42,109	$125,724	−$11,776	$1,053
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	66	$42,638	$127,694	−$9,806	$1,066
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	54	$48,840	$150,780	+$13,280	$1,221
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	38	$28,384	$74,635	−$62,865	$710
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	37	$53,399	$167,750	+$30,250	$1,335
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	29	$63,960	$207,061	+$69,561	$1,599
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	20	$42,471	$127,072	−$10,428	$1,062
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	13	$33,476	$93,590	−$43,910	$837
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	12	$34,937	$99,028	−$38,472	$873

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,376	$63,580	$205,647	+$68,147	$1,590
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	412	$26,119	$66,204	−$71,296	$653
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	321	$21,388	$48,594	−$88,906	$535
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	304	$79,010	$263,083	+$125,583	$1,975
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	254	$31,152	$84,939	−$52,561	$779
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	165	$68,113	$222,520	+$85,020	$1,703
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	159	$75,254	$249,101	+$111,601	$1,881
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	136	$40,824	$120,941	−$16,559	$1,021
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	77	$29,890	$80,241	−$57,259	$747
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	65	$42,562	$127,411	−$10,089	$1,064
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	56	$34,614	$97,826	−$39,674	$865
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	52	$44,492	$134,595	−$2,905	$1,112
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	48	$84,383	$283,083	+$145,583	$2,110
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	39	$65,179	$211,599	+$74,099	$1,629
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	39	$47,733	$146,659	+$9,159	$1,193
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	37	$53,399	$167,750	+$30,250	$1,335
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	28	$49,431	$152,979	+$15,479	$1,236
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	22	$25,784	$64,957	−$72,543	$645
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	20	$41,707	$124,228	−$13,272	$1,043
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	14	$58,176	$185,531	+$48,031	$1,454
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	13	$42,962	$128,900	−$8,600	$1,074
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	13	$22,640	$53,254	−$84,246	$566
NAICS 486 Pipeline transportation NAICS 486	11	$50,335	$156,344	+$18,844	$1,258
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	11	$27,524	$71,434	−$66,066	$688
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	11	$34,447	$97,204	−$40,296	$861
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	9	$35,781	$102,170	−$35,330	$895
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	9	$49,841	$154,506	+$17,006	$1,246
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	8	$27,832	$72,581	−$64,919	$696
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	7	$41,560	$123,681	−$13,819	$1,039
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	7	$41,485	$123,402	−$14,098	$1,037
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	7	$22,898	$54,215	−$83,285	$572
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	6	$50,971	$158,712	+$21,212	$1,274
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	3	$32,404	$89,599	−$47,901	$810

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	5,180	—	—	$14.03	$29,170	$77,561	$729
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,890	—	—	$14.96	$31,110	$84,782	$778
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	4,420	—	—	$16.52	$34,350	$96,843	$859
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	680	—	—	$16.66	$34,650	$97,960	$866
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,680	—	—	$17.71	$36,840	$106,111	$921
Tellers SOC 43-3071	570	—	—	$17.89	$37,210	$107,489	$930
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,320	—	—	$18.16	$37,770	$109,573	$944
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	900	—	—	$18.53	$38,550	$112,477	$964
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,510	—	—	$19.34	$40,230	$118,730	$1,006
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	4,440	—	—	$19.45	$40,450	$119,549	$1,011
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	470	—	—	$21.71	$45,160	$137,081	$1,129
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,000	—	—	$22.76	$47,340	$145,196	$1,184
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,650	—	—	$25.06	$52,120	$162,989	$1,303
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	400	—	—	$25.12	$52,260	$163,510	$1,307
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	170	—	—	$26.38	$54,870	$173,225	$1,372
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	560	—	—	$29.59	$61,550	$198,090	$1,539
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,140	—	—	$29.85	$62,080	$200,063	$1,552
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,120	—	—	$29.86	$62,120	$200,212	$1,553
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,680	—	—	—	$71,500	$235,128	$1,788
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,270	—	—	$43.74	$90,980	$307,639	$2,275

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 35053 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.