Doña Ana County
NM · Pop. 221,665 · Suburban County
Doña Ana County, New Mexico covers 3,808 square miles with a population of 221,665 and a density of 58.2 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, cotton, wheat. A median home price of $205,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.68% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 230-day growing season, average summer highs of 93.9°F and average winter lows of 30.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 9.7 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 90.4% 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.
Pros
- A long 230-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.68% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 90.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc, with an emergency room, is just 3.6 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 9.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A poverty rate of 22.2% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Doña Ana County, NM is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 36/100
- Median home price
- $205k
- Property tax
- 0.68%
- Growing season
- 230 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 9.7"
- Broadband
- 90.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc, 3.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Doña Ana County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Doña Ana County?
- Doña Ana County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 230-day growing season, average summer highs of 93.9°F, and average winter lows of 30.3°F. The established crops are hay, cotton, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $205,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.68%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 90.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Three Crosses Regional Hospital Llc is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 7 hospitals in the county.
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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.
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