How affordable is land and property here?

The median home price is $142,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.64%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.

Is broadband internet available?

Broadband reaches 92.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.

Chaves County

NM · Pop. 64,446 · Rural County

51/100Homestead Score

Chaves County is a rural county in New Mexico, spanning 6,067 square miles with 64,446 residents at a density of 10.6 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, corn, haylage. A median home price of $142,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.64% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 213-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.5°F and average winter lows of 23.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 15.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.64%

Growing Season: 213 days

Broadband: 92.6%

Density: 10.6/sq mi

Pros

A long 213-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
A low effective property tax rate of 0.64% holds annual carrying costs down.
A median home price of $142,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
Broadband reaches 92.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell, with an emergency room, is just 4.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
Annual rainfall of just 15.1 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
A poverty rate of 22.3% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

Chaves County, NM is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score: 51/100
Median home price: $142k
Property tax: 0.64%
Growing season: 213 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall: 15.1"
Broadband: 92.6%
Nearest hospital: Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell, 4.8 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.64%

Median Household Income$52,029

Poverty Rate22.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$142K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b

Growing Season213 days

Annual Rainfall15.1 inches

Avg Summer High91.5°F

Avg Winter Low23.6°F

Top CropsHay, Corn, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought10/10

Wildfire10/10

Tornado3/10

Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalLovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell (4.8 mi)

Emergency RoomYes

Healthcare Facilities3

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage92.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.1%

Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Chaves County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Chaves County?: Chaves County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 213-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.5°F, and average winter lows of 23.6°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?: The median home price is $142,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.64%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?: Broadband reaches 92.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?: Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.

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The closest counties to Chaves County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified June 2026

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.