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County in New Mexico

Quay County, New Mexico

Quay County, in New Mexico, has 8,564 residents: No. 26 of 33 by population. Quay County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $87,200. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,019 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $19.60 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $87,200

    −65% vs. New Mexico −74% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Quay
    • New Mexico
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,019 a month

    −21% vs. New Mexico −42% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Quay
    • New Mexico
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Quay
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.61% of value per year

    −13% vs. New Mexico −35% vs. U.S.

    $532 a year for the typical owner

    • Quay
    • New Mexico
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$96,160
3.8% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Quay County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $699, that is, 20% of the typical household income in Quay County. Homes here are worth 65% less than the average across New Mexico. The typical property tax is $532 a year (about 0.61% of home value), lower than in New Mexico.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Quay County apart

  1. Quay County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $712, less than any of its 4 neighboring counties; next is San Miguel County ($823).

  2. Quay County has the lowest typical home value in its area: $87,200, less than any of its 4 neighboring counties; next is Guadalupe County ($110,000).

  3. Quay County has the 2nd lowest typical home value of the 31 counties in New Mexico with this figure ($87,200).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Quay County fell 3.8%; in New Mexico, it rose 1.7%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Quay County

What homes there are in Quay County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in New Mexico, most homes in Quay County are detached houses (67%).

In Quay County there are many mobile homes: 22% of homes; in New Mexico, 16%.

Year built

Homes in Quay County are older: the typical year built is 1966; in New Mexico, 1985.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 100% of owner-occupied homes in Quay County are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for this county ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$943 a month

New Mexico: $1,564 a month

Without a mortgage

$421 a month

New Mexico: $451 a month

Owners with a mortgage

37%

New Mexico: 52%

In Quay County, 37% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $943 a month, against $1,564 in New Mexico. Without one it drops to $421.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Quay County stayed about the same since 2015–2019: the Census sees no clear change.

Rent in Quay County moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureQuay CountyNew MexicoUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.3%3.4%
People per household 1.932.482.53
Drive alone 80%74%69%
Carpool 7%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 6%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute under 10 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 1.93 on average, against 2.48 in New Mexico.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Quay County drive alone; in New Mexico, 74%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Quay County?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home of $87,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 20% of the typical household income here, which is $41,946 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Quay County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,052 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$699

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$85,621
Total interest
$123,188
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,473 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $979 a month

    Your payment · 20%

  • Tight

    $979 to $1,258 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,258 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Quay County ($41,946 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$699
Principal & interest$580
Property tax$44
Home insurance$36
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$39

You need at least $3,052 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Quay County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Quay County compares with New Mexico and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

FHFA does not publish an annual price index in Quay County. This usually happens when there are too few sales to measure.

Period Here New Mexico United States
In 2025 — +3.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) — +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) — +82% +85%

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Quay County compared with New Mexico and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Quay $87,200
  • New Mexico $248,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Quay $712
  • New Mexico $1,067
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Quay $41,946
  • New Mexico $64,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Quay compared with New Mexico and the United States
MeasureHereNew MexicoU.S.
Residents8,5642,120,246334,922,499
Typical home value$87,200$248,100$332,700
Typical household income$41,946$64,059$80,734
Typical rent$712$1,067$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,019$1,282$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$19.60$24.65$33.65
Typical property tax$532$1,731$3,119
Effective tax rate0.61%0.7%0.94%
Households that own their home72%70%65%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: New Mexico shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Quay County

For a typical $87,200 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $699 $3,052 $85,621 7.18% FHA MIP · $39 $5,668 580
Conventional, 5% down $683 $4,360 $82,840 7.18% PMI · $41 $6,976 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $553 $17,440 $69,760 7.18% None $20,056 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $634 $13,080 $74,120 8.18% None $15,696 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Quay County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Quay County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Quay County, the typical owner pays $532 a year: about 0.61% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of New Mexico and less than the national average.

  • Quay 0.61%
  • New Mexico 0.70%
  • United States 0.94%

What New Mexico publishes 3 percent cap on the yearly increase in your home's taxable value (New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee ("Property Taxes in New Mexico" brief))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Mexico

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Quay County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Quay County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Quay County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

According to FEMA, the natural hazard risk in Quay County is very low.

That rating combines the loss FEMA expects with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Quay County from all natural hazards is $5.7 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $3 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively low $3 million a year
  2. WildfireRelatively low $460,032 a year
  3. TornadoVery low $63,959 a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively moderate $44,211 a year
  5. EarthquakeVery low $12,444 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Quay County is climate zone 4B in the home energy code (IECC): mixed and dry.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Summer

    • Before extreme heat: cover windows with drapes or shades, weather-strip doors and windows, and insulate around window air conditioners. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$28.13$18.17 and $45.67
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$28.56$17.37 and $47.28
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$23.21$17.32 and $34.09
Roofers$25.71$16.69 and $27.84
Carpenters$24.20$17.95 and $34.99
Painters, construction and maintenance$22.13$16.26 and $26.71
Maintenance and repair workers, general$21.50$14.44 and $33.24

An electrician earns about $28.13 an hour in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area, and a plumber, about $28.56.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Quay County

The typical rent in Quay County is $712 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $774 $14.88 $30,960
1 bedroom $779 $14.98 $31,160
2 bedrooms $1,019 $19.60 $40,760
3 bedrooms $1,323 $25.44 $52,920
4 bedrooms $1,598 $30.73 $63,920

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Quay County

Programs and counseling in Quay County

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

New Mexico down payment programs

  1. FirstDown

    New Mexico state agency fixed-rate second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers, together with the FirstHome mortgage

    First-time buyers only. Run by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. HomeNow

    New Mexico state agency fixed $7,000 second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of low-income first-time buyers; no monthly payments and forgivable after 10 years

    First-time buyers only. Run by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  3. FirstDown Plus

    New Mexico state agency fixed $10,000 third loan at 0%, for the down payment only, added to FirstDown or HomeNow; repaid in monthly installments over 15 years

    First-time buyers only. Run by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all New Mexico programs

Help in Spanish in Quay County

None of the 0 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Quay County. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Places

Cities in Quay County

This site has no city pages of Quay County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 1 cities of Quay County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Quay County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Quay County in 2026?

Quay County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Quay County?

Quay County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Quay County?

The typical home value in Quay County is $87,200 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across New Mexico it's $248,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Quay County?

Quay County has a typical rent of $712 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,019 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Quay County?

About $19.60 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $40,760 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,019 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).