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De Baca County

NM · Pop. 1,580 · Rural County

46/100Homestead Score

De Baca County is a rural county in New Mexico, spanning 2,323 square miles with 1,580 residents at a density of 0.7 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage. The median home price is $158,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.5%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.4°F and average winter lows of 23.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 15.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Guadalupe County Hospital is 43.6 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.2% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.5%
Growing Season: 192 days
Broadband: 95.2%
Density: 0.7/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 192-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.5% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $158,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 95.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • At 0.7 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • Annual rainfall of just 15.4 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
  • The nearest hospital, Guadalupe County Hospital, is 43.6 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
  • A poverty rate of 20.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

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

Homestead score
46/100
Median home price
$158k
Property tax
0.5%
Growing season
192 days (zone 7a)
Annual rainfall
15.4"
Broadband
95.2%
Nearest hospital
Guadalupe County Hospital, 43.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.5%
Median Household Income$40,804
Poverty Rate20.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$158K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7a
Growing Season192 days
Annual Rainfall15.4 inches
Avg Summer High92.4°F
Avg Winter Low23.5°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire8/10
Tornado1/10
Flood2/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalGuadalupe County Hospital (43.6 mi)
Emergency RoomNo
Healthcare Facilities0

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage95.2%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.4%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in De Baca County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in De Baca County?
De Baca County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.4°F, and average winter lows of 23.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $158,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.5%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 95.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Guadalupe County Hospital is 43.6 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.

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Data sources

Verified

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.