In Curry County, New Mexico, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Curry County, 24.1% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 78% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 78% of U.S. counties.
What drives Curry County's score
In Curry County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 84.2. About one in four renters (26.0%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 89% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 70.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Curry County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Curry County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (91.1, 2025) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (4.0%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 84.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.0% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.1% · fiscal year 202778th percentile
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- 70.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line16.8% · 202474th percentile
- Children below the poverty line21.1% · 202468th percentile
- People with a disability17.8% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- People without health insurance10.1% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$57,333 · 202477th percentile
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- 64.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.7% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.7% · August 202569th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score46.5% · second quarter of 202670th percentile
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- 60.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202646th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.0% · 2020 to 202473rd percentile
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- 54.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector31.0% · August 202576th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people91.1 · 202531st percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Curry County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Curry County, 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Curry County
New Mexico
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Curry County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 25.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Curry County, New Mexico, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 25.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Curry County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise in the last span, from 22.0% in 2023 to 25.5% in 2024.
The share of households in Curry County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled to 25.5%, the highest on the chart
Low on the chart: 15.4% in 2013. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Curry County, New Mexico.
How Curry County has changed
Curry County's population had its largest rise, from 42,294 in 1989 to 48,795 in 1994.
Curry County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and is down 7% since
High on the chart: 50,945 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Curry County, New Mexico.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Curry County rose by more than half to 18,211, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2000 to 2005, reaching 16,034. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Curry County, New Mexico.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.0% | 2025 3.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.6% | 2024 16.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,834 | 2024 $57,333 |
The table uses 3.4% for 2025; the score uses 4.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Curry County's history
1995
A thunderstorm in May 1995 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A tornado in March 2007 did $16.5 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
Hail in June 2010 did $1.25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flash flood in May 2015 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 48,430, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 2000
5 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Curry County. FEMA
Curry County beside its neighbors
Curry County scores higher than all five counties that border it, in New Mexico and Texas. For the share of income from benefit checks, Curry County ranks 3rd of the six; Quay County is highest, at 45.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry County, NM | 78 | 16.8% | 25.4% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 77 | 20.1% | 28.1% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 70 | 16.8% | 15.5% |
| Quay County, NM | 67 | 20.6% | 45.7% |
| Bailey County, TX | 57 | 15.6% | 20.5% |
| Parmer County, TX | 40 | 12.7% | 12.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Curry County the poorest county in New Mexico?
No, Curry County's poverty rate was 16.8% in 2024, 24th highest of 33 in New Mexico (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Socorro County, at 28.5%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Curry County ranks 10th of 33 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Curry County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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New Mexico Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Curry County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.