Hidalgo County, New Mexico Income Statistics
Hidalgo County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Hidalgo County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hidalgo County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,202 | $64,523 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,943 | $52,404 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.8% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hidalgo County is about 24% lower than in New Mexico. Income has been growing faster in Hidalgo County (4.8%/yr) than in New Mexico (4.4%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Hidalgo County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New Mexico average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Hidalgo County, New Mexico grew by 25.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,202 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hidalgo County
| Metric | Hidalgo County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.546 | 0.567 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,944 | $60,037 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,998 | $51,390 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.9% | 14.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Hidalgo County, it is 0.546, lower than New Mexico's 0.567, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $488,110 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hidalgo County, New Mexico has narrowed from about 44% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 3% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,716 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hidalgo County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.6% | 12.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 60 people are unemployed in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
The average commute time in Hidalgo County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in New Mexico.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hidalgo County, New Mexico has fallen from 12.7% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.4% in 2013.
Hidalgo County, NM Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hidalgo County, NM is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 4,041 residents against a local median of 27,774. Where Hidalgo County, NM breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 49% below the local median of 6.9% at 3.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.8%/yr against a local median of 3.6%/yr, 32% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while median household income runs behind it, so Hidalgo County, NM is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 6.0% on unemployment, so Hidalgo County, NM sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hidalgo County, NM has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidalgo County, NM | 4,041 | $49,202 #4/6 | 4.8%/yr #1/6 | 3.5% #2/6 | 0.546 #1/6 |
| Grant County, NM | 27,774 | $44,960 | 2.1%/yr | 8.4% | 0.552 |
| Luna County, NM | 25,611 | $36,669 | 3.6%/yr | 5.4% | 0.561 |
| Cochise County, AZ | 125,520 | $59,729 | 3.5%/yr | 6.9% | 0.563 |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 9,411 | $73,380 | 4.5%/yr | 2.3% | 0.577 |
| Graham County, AZ | 39,230 | $67,909 | 4.8%/yr | 7.7% | 0.601 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hidalgo County, New Mexico has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than New Mexico, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
How Rich Is Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Hidalgo County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $49,202, about 24% lower than the New Mexico average of $64,523.
Are incomes growing in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hidalgo County, New Mexico rose 26%, from $39,185 to $49,202. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New Mexico as a whole: +26% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Hidalgo County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hidalgo County, New Mexico was $49,145, down 8% from $53,676 in 2022. The New Mexico median that year was $62,406.
What was the median household income in Hidalgo County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hidalgo County, New Mexico was $44,627. By 2024 it had risen 10% to $49,202.
Is unemployment high in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Unemployment in Hidalgo County, New Mexico is only 3.5%, well below the New Mexico rate of 5.9%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
The Gini coefficient in Hidalgo County is 0.546. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Hidalgo County, New Mexico?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hidalgo County, New Mexico has narrowed from about 44% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 3% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,716 since 2009.
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