USDA eligibility map: New Mexico
About 98.2% of New Mexico's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 16th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 23 of 33 counties have no ineligible area at all. 61 Census places in New Mexico lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Albuquerque city, Santa Fe city, Clovis city, Las Cruces city and Rio Rancho city.
Check a New Mexico address
USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | 34.7% | Albuquerque city, South Valley CDP, Pajarito Mesa CDP, Barton CDP, Ponderosa Pine CDP, North Valley CDP, Paa-Ko CDP, Kirtland AFB CDP, and 13 more |
| Catron County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Chaves County | 97.1% | Roswell city, Midway CDP |
| Cibola County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Colfax County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Curry County | 88.6% | Clovis city, Cannon AFB CDP |
| De Baca County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Doña Ana County | 88.9% | Las Cruces city, Radium Springs CDP, Mesilla town, Picacho Hills CDP, San Ysidro CDP, Fairacres CDP, University Park CDP, San Pablo CDP, and 4 more |
| Eddy County | 98.9% | Carlsbad city, La Huerta CDP |
| Grant County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Guadalupe County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Harding County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Hidalgo County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lea County | 98.2% | Hobbs city |
| Lincoln County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Los Alamos County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Luna County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| McKinley County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Mora County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Otero County | 97.5% | Alamogordo city, Boles Acres CDP, La Luz CDP |
| Quay County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Rio Arriba County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Roosevelt County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| San Juan County | 98.9% | Farmington city, Totah Vista CDP |
| San Miguel County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Sandoval County | 97.0% | Rio Rancho city, Corrales village |
| Santa Fe County | 88.1% | Santa Fe city, Eldorado at Santa Fe CDP, La Cienega CDP, Tano Road CDP, Las Campanas CDP, Tres Arroyos CDP, Santa Fe Foothills CDP, Sunlit Hills CDP, and 6 more |
| Sierra County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Socorro County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Taos County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Torrance County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Union County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Valencia County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in New Mexico, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and New Mexico has 63 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is New Mexico eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 98.2% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (2,216 of about 121,615 square miles are ineligible). 23 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which New Mexico counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Bernalillo County (34.7% eligible), Santa Fe County (88.1% eligible), Curry County (88.6% eligible), Doña Ana County (88.9% eligible), Sandoval County (97.0% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which New Mexico towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Albuquerque city, Santa Fe city, Clovis city, Las Cruces city, Rio Rancho city, Roswell city, Alamogordo city and Hobbs city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a New Mexico address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for New Mexico last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for New Mexico carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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