Harding County's composite score of 79.3 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking it in the 79th percentile nationally. The county is among the most livable in the entire United States by this composite measure.
2 / 5
Highest-ranked New Mexico county
At 79.3, Harding County significantly outpaces New Mexico's state average of 69.8 and ranks as the highest-scored county in this group. It stands as the state's premier livability destination by composite score.
3 / 5
Lowest taxes and exceptional resilience
Harding boasts the lowest effective tax rate (0.379%) and highest tax score (91.6) among all counties examined, paired with a remarkable risk score of 99.6 indicating superior environmental and economic stability. Housing is also deeply affordable with median rent at $700/month and homes at $86,500.
4 / 5
Very limited income and economic activity
The county's income score of 10.3 and median household income of $41,250 reflect a very small economic base with minimal wage-earning opportunities. This is a rural, sparse community with limited employment options.
5 / 5
Top choice for tax-conscious retirees
Harding County is unbeatable for retirees and remote workers seeking maximum tax efficiency and environmental stability in a rural setting. Those with fixed pensions or outside income will find it exceptional; wage earners should look elsewhere.
Harding County's composite score of 79.3 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking it in the 79th percentile nationally. The county is among the most livable in the entire United States by this composite measure.
Highest-ranked New Mexico county
At 79.3, Harding County significantly outpaces New Mexico's state average of 69.8 and ranks as the highest-scored county in this group. It stands as the state's premier livability destination by composite score.
Lowest taxes and exceptional resilience
Harding boasts the lowest effective tax rate (0.379%) and highest tax score (91.6) among all counties examined, paired with a remarkable risk score of 99.6 indicating superior environmental and economic stability. Housing is also deeply affordable with median rent at $700/month and homes at $86,500.
Very limited income and economic activity
The county's income score of 10.3 and median household income of $41,250 reflect a very small economic base with minimal wage-earning opportunities. This is a rural, sparse community with limited employment options.
Top choice for tax-conscious retirees
Harding County is unbeatable for retirees and remote workers seeking maximum tax efficiency and environmental stability in a rural setting. Those with fixed pensions or outside income will find it exceptional; wage earners should look elsewhere.
Score breakdown
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🏛91.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Harding County's effective tax rate of 0.379% ranks in the bottom 5% of all U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax of just $328 annually is among the lowest in America, reflecting the county's remote rural character.
Lowest effective rate in New Mexico
Harding County's 0.379% rate is the lowest across all New Mexico counties, running 36% below the statewide average of 0.595%. The median property tax of $328 is less than one-third the state median of $1,043.
Dramatically lower than surrounding counties
Harding County's 0.379% rate significantly undercuts Grant County (0.460%) and Eddy County (0.499%) in the region. This exceptional affordability reflects Harding's sparse population and modest property values across the northeastern plains.
Harding homeowner pays just $328 yearly
With a median home value of $86,500 and a 0.379% effective rate, the typical Harding County homeowner pays only $328 annually in property tax. Those with mortgages pay $717 (including escrow), while owners without mortgages pay just $300.
Even low assessments deserve verification
Harding County's minimal tax bills don't eliminate the need to verify your assessment. If your home's assessed value seems misaligned with local market conditions, an appeal is quick and could save money across the years you own the property.
Harding County renters spend 20.4% of household income on rent, slightly above New Mexico's state average of 19.4% and noticeably higher than the national comfort zone. A median household income of $41,250—45% below the national median—means residents stretch modest incomes across all basic needs.
Below-average affordability for the state
Harding County's rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% exceeds New Mexico's 19.4% average, placing it in the less affordable half of the state's counties. The combination of low income and tight ratios suggests housing pressure despite comparatively low absolute rents.
Middle-ground rents, bottom-tier incomes
Harding's $700 monthly rent falls between Guadalupe County's $515 and Grant County's $810, but the median income of $41,250 is among the state's lowest. The result: a 20.4% burden ratio that strains household budgets more than the low rents alone suggest.
Tight budgets despite modest housing costs
Renters pay $700 monthly while owners pay $474, with median home values around $86,500—among the state's lowest. At just $41,250 median household income, housing consumes 20.4% of gross income, leaving limited flexibility for savings or unexpected expenses.
Harding: affordable but economically limited
Harding offers low rents and rock-bottom home prices, but the local economy is tightly constrained. Consider moving here only if you have remote income, a pension, or strong ties to the rural ranching community that sustains the county.
Harding County's median household income of $41,250 falls about $33,500 below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting limited economic scale and employment opportunities. The county's small population and rural character constrain wage growth.
Below state average, sparse population
Harding County's median household income of $41,250 trails New Mexico's state average of $55,469 by roughly $14,000. As one of the state's least populous counties, Harding faces structural challenges in attracting higher-wage employers.
Similar challenges to nearby counties
Harding County households earn $41,250, comparable to Guadalupe County ($40,149) and well below Lincoln County ($51,643) and Lea County ($68,750). The northern plains counties share limited economic diversity and lower wage opportunities.
Affordability offsets modest income
Harding County's rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% and median home value of just $86,500 mean housing costs consume a moderate share of income while remaining quite affordable. Low housing costs provide financial breathing room for households on modest earnings.
Save aggressively on low expenses
Harding County's exceptionally low housing costs create an opportunity to save aggressively on a modest income of $41,250. Focus on building an emergency fund, exploring any available employer retirement plans, and consider skill development that could enable remote work at higher wages.
Life expectancy data for Harding County is not currently available, but 21.9% of residents report poor or fair health—near national averages. This health-status measure suggests underlying chronic disease challenges that warrant closer investigation and data collection.
Harding County uninsured rate above state norm
Harding County's uninsured rate of 10.6% exceeds New Mexico's 10.2% state average, leaving more than one in ten residents without health coverage. Life expectancy data for Harding County remains unavailable, limiting our ability to assess how coverage gaps translate to health outcomes.
Data constraints limit county comparison
Provider data for Harding County is not available, making direct comparison to neighboring Eddy, Union, and Quay counties difficult. The available health-status rate of 21.9% aligns with regional peers, suggesting similar underlying health burdens despite data gaps.
Provider data gap masks access challenges
Information on primary care and mental health provider availability in Harding County is not currently reported, obscuring the county's true healthcare capacity. The 10.6% uninsured rate suggests a meaningful share of residents lack insurance to access whatever providers exist.
Don't let coverage gaps worsen health outcomes
More than one in ten Harding County residents lack health insurance, risking delayed care and medical debt. Visit healthcare.gov or New Mexico's health marketplace today to explore affordable coverage options for your family.
With a composite risk score of just 0.38, Harding County ranks as very low risk and is dramatically below New Mexico's state average of 58.92. This exceptionally low score reflects minimal exposure to most major natural disasters across the county.
New Mexico's safest county
Harding County ranks as the lowest-risk county in New Mexico, with a composite score that underscores its exceptional safety profile. Few counties anywhere in the nation face such minimal natural disaster exposure as measured across major hazard categories.
Far safer than any nearby county
Harding County's 0.38 score is orders of magnitude lower than all surrounding counties, including Guadalupe (8.81) and Union (neighboring but not listed). This geographic advantage makes Harding unique within the region for hazard safety.
Wildfire only notable concern
Wildfire risk scores 67.88 in Harding County—the county's only hazard of meaningful concern—though the overall risk remains very low. Flood (2.80), tornado (3.47), and earthquake (5.06) risks are negligible, and hurricane exposure is essentially nonexistent.
Basic homeowners insurance suffices
Standard homeowners insurance coverage adequately protects Harding County residents, as natural disaster exposure is minimal across all categories. Focus insurance dollars on routine home protection rather than specialized disaster endorsements unless wildfire brush clearing is needed.