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Roosevelt County

NM · Pop. 19,002 · Rural County

46/100Homestead Score

Roosevelt County is a rural county in New Mexico, spanning 2,446 square miles with 19,002 residents at a density of 7.8 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, wheat, haylage. A median home price of $136,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.44% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.8°F and average winter lows of 25°F. Annual rainfall averages 17.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Roosevelt General Hospital is 12.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.44%
Growing Season: 179 days
Broadband: 93.1%
Density: 7.8/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.44% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $136,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on hay, wheat, haylage means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • At 7.8 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.
  • 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 17.4 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
  • A poverty rate of 21.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

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

Homestead score
46/100
Median home price
$136k
Property tax
0.44%
Growing season
179 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall
17.4"
Broadband
93.1%
Nearest hospital
Roosevelt General Hospital, 12.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.44%
Median Household Income$52,445
Poverty Rate21.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$136K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b
Growing Season179 days
Annual Rainfall17.4 inches
Avg Summer High90.8°F
Avg Winter Low25°F
Top CropsHay, Wheat, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought10/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado6/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalRoosevelt General Hospital (12.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93.1%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.8%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Roosevelt County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Roosevelt County?
Roosevelt County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.8°F, and average winter lows of 25°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $136,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.44%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Roosevelt General Hospital is 12.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital 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.