Roosevelt County

New Mexico · NM

#23 in New Mexico
68
County Score

County Report Card

About Roosevelt County, New Mexico

Roosevelt County above national standard

Roosevelt County's composite score of 68.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 68th percentile nationally. This performance reflects solid, competitive livability across most dimensions.

Slightly below state average

At 68.0, Roosevelt County ranks slightly below the New Mexico state average of 69.8, placing it in the middle tier of state performance. It offers livability comparable to most state neighbors.

Exceptional tax rates and health outcomes

Roosevelt County features the second-lowest tax burden with a score of 90.0 (0.436% effective rate) and solid health outcomes (64.4). Good income levels ($52,445) and reasonable costs (79.7) round out its competitive profile.

Less affordable housing than top performers

Roosevelt's cost score of 79.7 lags several peers, reflecting higher rental rates ($863/month) and home values ($136,000). Risk indicators (15.9) also suggest limited economic resilience.

Suitable for tax-savvy families with means

Roosevelt County appeals to families with stable incomes seeking low taxes and solid health services at reasonable costs. It suits those who value fiscal efficiency and community health over absolute affordability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax90Cost79.7SafetyComing SoonHealth64.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome17.6Risk15.9WaterComing Soon
🏛90
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠79.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼17.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
64.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
15.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Roosevelt County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Roosevelt County

via TaxByCounty

Roosevelt's taxes rank among the lowest nationally

Roosevelt County's effective tax rate of 0.436% places it in the lowest tier of American counties for property tax burden. Homeowners pay approximately $593 annually on the median property value, representing a 78% reduction compared to the national median tax bill of $2,690.

Roosevelt ranks second-lowest in state

Roosevelt County's 0.436% rate is the second-lowest in New Mexico, just slightly above Rio Arriba's 0.433%, and well below the state average of 0.595%. The median tax of $593 is 43% lower than the state median of $1,043, reflecting both the county's low rate and moderate home values.

Roosevelt near Rio Arriba in tax-friendliness

Roosevelt's 0.436% rate rivals Rio Arriba (0.433%) as the state's most affordable, substantially beating Luna (0.576%), Otero (0.563%), and Quay (0.617%). This cluster of southern and eastern New Mexico counties features Roosevelt among the most tax-friendly options available.

Median Roosevelt home: $593 annual tax

On Roosevelt's median home value of $136,000, property owners pay approximately $593 in annual taxes, among the lowest absolute amounts in New Mexico. Homeowners with mortgages typically pay $837 after insurance and fees, while those owning outright pay around $486.

Appeal if your home is overvalued

Roosevelt's favorable tax environment means even small overassessments compound into unnecessary costs for homeowners. If your assessed value exceeds comparable homes recently sold in your neighborhood, file a free appeal with the county assessor to ensure accuracy.

Cost of Living in Roosevelt County

via CostByCounty

Roosevelt County near-parity affordability

Roosevelt County's 19.8% rent-to-income ratio sits just above New Mexico's 19.4% state average and aligns closely with national affordability norms. With median household income of $52,445 and rents at $863 monthly, Roosevelt County residents enjoy near-balanced housing costs relative to peers.

Average affordability, moderate rents

Roosevelt County's 19.8% rent-to-income ratio slightly exceeds New Mexico's 19.4% average, placing it in the middle tier for state affordability. At $863 monthly rent—above the state median of $876—Roosevelt balances reasonable costs with moderate county incomes.

Mid-range rents in regional context

Roosevelt County's $863 rent ranks mid-range among these eight counties, higher than rural peers like Quay ($752) and Luna ($685) but lower than Otero ($926) and San Juan ($917). This pricing reflects Roosevelt's positioning between remote rural areas and more developed regional markets.

Unusual: renters and owners cost equally

Roosevelt County presents a rare affordability profile where renters and homeowners pay nearly identical housing costs: $863 monthly rent versus $868 ownership at median. With median income of $52,445, both groups spend approximately 19.8-19.9% of gross income on housing—an unusual equilibrium.

Balanced housing market, equal access

Roosevelt County offers balanced affordability for both renters and homeowners, with near-identical monthly costs and median home values of $136,000. Relocators can choose tenure based on preference rather than affordability pressure, making Roosevelt an accessible option for diverse housing needs.

Income & Jobs in Roosevelt County

via IncomeByCounty

Roosevelt earns 30% below national median

Roosevelt County's median household income of $52,445 falls 30% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in America's lower-income tier. However, Roosevelt performs above several neighboring rural New Mexico counties, suggesting some localized economic strength.

Upper-middle earner in New Mexico

Roosevelt County ranks in the upper half of New Mexico's 33 counties, with median household income of $52,445 just $3,024 below the state average of $55,469. Per capita income of $26,105 lags the state average by 20%, suggesting some income concentration among higher earners.

Competitive earner in eastern region

Roosevelt's $52,445 median exceeds Luna ($37,917), McKinley ($44,496), and Quay ($43,698) counties, but trails Rio Arriba ($53,901) and San Juan ($53,020) slightly. The county's relatively stronger position likely reflects government employment and agricultural operations supporting above-average local incomes.

Balanced housing costs and earnings

Roosevelt County's rent-to-income ratio of 19.8% sits just below the 20% affordability threshold, with median home values of $136,000 moderate for the region. The county offers reasonable housing affordability relative to median income, supporting stable household finances.

Strengthen financial foundations now

Roosevelt residents should establish emergency savings equivalent to 3-6 months of expenses, then prioritize retirement contributions and education investments. Exploring career advancement in agriculture, government, and healthcare—Roosevelt's primary employment sectors—offers direct paths to higher earnings.

Health in Roosevelt County

via HealthByCounty

Roosevelt County Meets National Health Standards

At 74.4 years, Roosevelt County residents live 1.3 years longer than the U.S. average of 73.1 years, placing the county solidly above-average nationally. Just 21% report poor or fair health, beating the U.S. benchmark and indicating effective chronic disease management in this eastern county.

Above-Average Health for New Mexico

Roosevelt County's 74.4-year life expectancy exceeds New Mexico's state average of 73.7 years by 0.7 years, ranking the county in the upper-middle tier statewide. The 21% poor/fair health rate is among the best in the state, reflecting strong community health outcomes.

Healthier Than Most Rural Neighbors

Roosevelt County's 74.4-year life expectancy significantly outpaces Quay County (70.3 years) to the north by 4.1 years and trails only Otero County (74.9 years) in this region. The strong performance positions Roosevelt as a health leader among eastern New Mexico counties.

Good Provider Access and Insurance Coverage

Roosevelt County residents benefit from 42 primary care providers per 100K and 303 mental health providers per 100K, supporting solid access to both medical and behavioral care. At 11.1% uninsured, the rate is slightly above the state average of 10.2%, but most residents maintain coverage.

Protect Your Health Coverage

Roosevelt County residents should check their insurance status at Healthcare.gov or contact local health centers to ensure continuous coverage. With good provider access in place, maintaining insurance maximizes your ability to stay healthy and prevent disease.

Disaster Risk in Roosevelt County

via RiskByCounty

Roosevelt County's risk above national average

Roosevelt County scores 84.06 on composite risk, earning a Relatively Moderate rating and placing it well above the national average. This elevated score reflects substantial multi-hazard exposure across the county's eastern plains landscape.

Among New Mexico's highest-risk counties

Roosevelt County ranks in the top tier of New Mexico's risk hierarchy with an 84.06 score, substantially exceeding the state average of 58.92. The county represents one of the state's most hazard-exposed communities.

Riskier than most surrounding counties

Roosevelt County's 84.06 score significantly exceeds neighboring Quay and Curry counties to the north and west. The county's eastern plains location subjects it to unique tornado and hurricane risk not found in western New Mexico.

Wildfire, tornado, and flood threaten residents

Wildfire risk peaks at 98.57, making Roosevelt County one of New Mexico's most fire-prone areas with severe property threats. Tornado risk at 53.53 is notably high for New Mexico, and flood risk at 83.72 rounds out a serious multi-hazard profile.

Multiple coverages essential for protection

Roosevelt County residents must secure homeowners insurance with wildfire coverage and maintain defensible space aggressively around structures. Tornado and wind coverage is equally critical given the county's plains location; consider a separate policy or rider if your standard policy has windstorm exclusions.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.