The 10 Poorest Cities In New Mexico For 2026

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$31,844 median income · 34.3% poverty · #1 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Quay County, New Mexico

Median income -50% vs NM

$31,844

NM $64k

Poverty rate +93% vs NM

34.3%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment +87% vs NM

11.2%

NM 6.0%

Tucumcari, unfortunately, ranks as the poorest place in New Mexico thanks to combination of low pay and and a lack of jobs.

The city of 5,160 people averages the lowest median household income in New Mexico and the highest poverty rate. At the very least, the cost of living ranks in the bottom 15% of place in the state, so things like housing are relatively affordable.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$38,132 median income · 32.9% poverty · #4 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Median income -40% vs NM

$38,132

NM $64k

Poverty rate +85% vs NM

32.9%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment +93% vs NM

11.6%

NM 6.0%

The second poorest city in New Mexico is Anthony.

The city ranks as having the 3rd highest incidence of poverty and 4th lowest median household income. However, the unemployment rate ‘only’ ranks as the 2nd highest in the Land of Enchantment.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$33,788 median income · 31.7% poverty · #2 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Sierra County, New Mexico

Median income -47% vs NM

$33,788

NM $64k

Poverty rate +78% vs NM

31.7%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment -73% vs NM

1.6%

NM 6.0%

Placing as the third poorest city, Truth or Consequences’s median income ranks as the 2nd lowest.

And that’s a sign that there’s a relatively substantial jump in the quality of the economy from second to third place on our list. The poverty rate is 31.7% and ranks near the bottom of places in the state.

But what makes up for the relatively low incomes of the city is its low cost of living. The income you do make here goes further than in most parts of the Land of Enchantment.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$39,375 median income · 32.6% poverty · #6 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Socorro County, New Mexico

Median income -39% vs NM

$39,375

NM $64k

Poverty rate +83% vs NM

32.6%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment -65% vs NM

2.1%

NM 6.0%

Socorro ranks as the fourth poorest place in New Mexico.

The town ranks as having the 6th lowest median household income and the 4th highest incidence of poverty in the state.

That being said, there’s still a ton of cultural diversity in the city as it hosts many events throughout the year.

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$34,165 median income · 30.9% poverty · #3 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Luna County, New Mexico

Median income -47% vs NM

$34,165

NM $64k

Poverty rate +74% vs NM

30.9%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment -55% vs NM

2.7%

NM 6.0%

The fifth poorest city in New Mexico is Deming.

The city ranks as having the 3rd lowest median income in the state. However, an extremely low cost of living prevents a good number of folks from living in poverty as the poverty rate only ranks as the 8th highest in New Mexico.

Still not the best news for Deming.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$47,183 median income · 34.1% poverty · #10 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Cibola County, New Mexico

Median income -26% vs NM

$47,183

NM $64k

Poverty rate +92% vs NM

34.1%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment +0% vs NM

6.0%

NM 6.0%

Grants ranks as the sixth poorest place in the Land of Enchantment.

It ranks as having the 2nd highest incidence of poverty and the 14th highest unemployment rate.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

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$45,125 median income · 32.0% poverty · #9 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in San Miguel County, New Mexico

Median income -30% vs NM

$45,125

NM $64k

Poverty rate +80% vs NM

32.0%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment -20% vs NM

4.8%

NM 6.0%

Las Vegas places as the seventh poorest city in New Mexico.

The city of over 13,000 ranks as having the 5th highest incidence of poverty in the state. However, it has a very low cost of living which helps to pay the bills each month.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$42,627 median income · 31.2% poverty · #8 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Valencia County, New Mexico

Median income -33% vs NM

$42,627

NM $64k

Poverty rate +75% vs NM

31.2%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment +33% vs NM

8.0%

NM 6.0%

Belen ranks as the eighth poorest city in New Mexico.

The big issue for the town is the unemployment rate which ranks as one of the highest in the state.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers

Source: Public domain

$41,977 median income · 25.9% poverty · #7 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in San Juan County, New Mexico

Median income -34% vs NM

$41,977

NM $64k

Poverty rate +46% vs NM

25.9%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment -25% vs NM

4.5%

NM 6.0%

Aztec couldn’t stay out of the top ten poorest places in New Mexico; it ranks number 9.

While the median income is the 7th lowest, there are a substantial number of people that live below the poverty line. Overall, Aztec ranks as having the 12th most people living in poverty of all the places we analyzed in New Mexico.

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Source: Public domain

$38,711 median income · 23.7% poverty · #5 lowest income in New Mexico

Located in Grant County, New Mexico

Median income -40% vs NM

$38,711

NM $64k

Poverty rate +33% vs NM

23.7%

NM 17.8%

Unemployment +118% vs NM

13.1%

NM 6.0%

And rounding out the top ten poorest cities in New Mexico is Silver City.

The city of 9,536 people ranks in the bottom 20% for both median income and poverty rate in the Land of Enchantment.

Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers