HomeNew MexicoChaves County
Chaves County, New Mexico: commercial real estate data.
Chaves County, New Mexico had an estimated 63,697 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,156, across 6,065 square miles. County output reached $2.87 bn in 2024, 1,342 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 26 7(a) approvals worth $10.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Chaves County
How many people live in Chaves County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,217
- Households23,712
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$52,938
- Median age37.2
- Median gross rent$867 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$156,400
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over41,958
- Population under 1815,799
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over10,569
- Share 65 and over16.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6437,849
- Civilian labor force28,005
- Unemployment rate5.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.8 percent
- Rank by population among New Mexico counties10th of 33
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included860th of 3,222
Chaves County is the 10th largest of 33 New Mexico counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 16.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Chaves County
Is Chaves County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202463,697
- Census 2020 base population65,156
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.24 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202429
- Births, 2024727
- Deaths, 2024710
- Natural change, 202417
- Net domestic migration, 2024-197
- Net international migration, 2024208
- Total net migration, 202411
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,897
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2558th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.24 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Chaves County
Where are people moving to Chaves County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,084
- People arriving, from those returns2,083
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,194
- Net household movement-110
- Adjusted gross income arriving$52.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-14.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$48,740
- Average income of a leaving household$56,533
- Largest single originEddy County (104 households)
- Largest single destinationEddy County (107 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy County | 104 | 215 | $4.5 m |
| Bernalillo County | 78 | 125 | $3.3 m |
| Doña Ana County | 44 | 64 | $1.1 m |
| Lincoln County | 38 | 70 | $1.6 m |
| Lea County | 30 | 59 | $1.1 m |
| Maricopa County | 27 | 50 | $1.0 m |
| El Paso County | 24 | 56 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $7,793 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Eddy County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Chaves County
What is the Chaves County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.87 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.67 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years31.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Mexico areas BEA publishes12th of 33
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1013th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,624
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 31.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Chaves County
Employment by industry in Chaves County
- Covered employment, annual average21,658
- Establishments reporting1,805
- Average annual pay$47,769
- Average weekly wage$919
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,714
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$46,176
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,136
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,426
- Retail trade, employment2,887
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,986
- Wholesale trade, employment885
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$51,274
- Manufacturing, employment880
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment874
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,714 | 377 | $46,176 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,136 | 134 | $22,426 |
| Retail trade | 2,887 | 190 | $34,986 |
| Wholesale trade | 885 | 66 | $51,274 |
| Manufacturing | 880 | 40 | $60,757 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 874 | 79 | $45,698 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 826 | 63 | $51,865 |
| Construction | 705 | 123 | $54,102 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,714 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Chaves County
How many businesses are in Chaves County?
- Establishments, all industries1,342
- Employment at those establishments16,093
- Annual payroll$683.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chaves County
Building permits in Chaves County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202488
- Declared construction value permitted$15.9 m
- Single family units authorized88
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$181,249
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.7
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Chaves County
SBA loans in Chaves County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded26
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$413,377
- Median 7(a) approval$125,000
- 10th percentile approval$13,750
- 90th percentile approval$789,650
- Largest single approval$3,174,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)175
- Jobs per approval6.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter17
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals7.7 percent
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (8)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.9 m
- Average 504 approval$839,857
- Median 504 approval$598,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval9.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.7
- Most active CDCEnchantment Land Certified Development Company (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$16.6 m
The average approval of $413,377 sits well above the median of $125,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaves County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Chaves County
Do SBA loans in Chaves County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure20
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full2
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaves County
SBA lending by place in Chaves County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Roswell, approvals23
- Hagerman, approvals2
- Dexter, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Roswell | 23 | $9,972,600 |
| Hagerman | 2 | $720,200 |
| Dexter | 1 | $55,000 |
Roswell accounts for 23 approvals against 2 in Hagerman. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Chaves County
How large is Chaves County?
- Land area6,065 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Mexico counties4th of 33
- Width, east to west106.5 mi
- Height, north to south108.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land11
- Establishments per square mile0.22
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Chaves County
Flood risk in Chaves County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Chaves County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 350125
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Chaves County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Chaves County (community 350125), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Chaves County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 75.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Chaves County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Chaves County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,217
- Households23,712
- Average household size2.71
- Median household income$52,938
- Median age37.2
Common questions
Chaves County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Chaves County, New Mexico?
The Census Bureau estimates 63,697 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 64,217, in 23,712 households, ranking 10th of 33 New Mexico counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Chaves County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.24 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,156, to 63,697 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 727 births against 710 deaths, with net migration of 11. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Chaves County?
$52,938. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,400, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $867 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Chaves County?
1,342 establishments, employing 16,093 people with an annual payroll of $683.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Chaves County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,714 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 21,658 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,769, or $919 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Chaves County?
26 7(a) approvals totaling $10.7 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $125,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $5.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Chaves County?
88 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $15.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Chaves County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Chaves County come from?
The largest single origin is Eddy County, with 104 households. Arriving households report an average income of $48,740 against $56,533 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Chaves County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Chaves County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Chaves County
Cities and places in Chaves.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Chaves County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roswell | city | 47,638 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Dexter | town | 1,128 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Hagerman | town | 849 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Midway | CDP | 541 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Arthur | town | 478 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby