In San Miguel County, New Mexico, benefit checks have brought in more money than paychecks since 2014
In 2024, 45 cents of every dollar of income here came from benefit checks, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans' benefits. That was a larger share than across the country.
More distressed than 77% of U.S. counties.
What drives San Miguel County's score
In San Miguel County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 92.1. About three in ten renters (29.4%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 96% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 84.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in San Miguel 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.
San Miguel County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (41.2, 2025) and people with a car or retail loan behind (3.7%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 92.1 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 rent29.4% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.1% · fiscal year 202787th percentile
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- 84.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line26.0% · 202496th percentile
- Children below the poverty line36.3% · 202497th percentile
- People with a disability23.5% · 2020 to 202493rd percentile
- People without health insurance7.1% · 2020 to 202443rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$49,553 · 202492nd percentile
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- 79.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202673rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working28.3% · 2020 to 202485th percentile
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- 43.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.4% · August 202531st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.7% · August 202528th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score46.1% · second quarter of 202670th percentile
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- 31.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.7% · August 202556th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people41.2 · 20256th 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 San Miguel 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 San Miguel County, 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
San Miguel County
New Mexico
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In San Miguel County, benefit checks have brought in more than pay since 2014
In San Miguel County, New Mexico, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 45.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in San Miguel County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 26.2% in 2018 to 31.2% in 2019.
The share of households in San Miguel County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2021 and has since fallen to 29.2%
Low on the chart: 12.4% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, San Miguel County, New Mexico.
How San Miguel County has changed
San Miguel County's population had its largest rise, from 25,502 in 1989 to 28,390 in 1994.
San Miguel County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1999 and is down 12% since
High on the chart: 30,108 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, San Miguel County, New Mexico.
The number of jobs located in San Miguel County had its largest drop, from 8,315 in 2015 to 7,478 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in San Miguel County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 8,569 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, San Miguel County, New Mexico.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.6% | 2025 4.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 32.3% | 2024 26.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $14,886 | 2024 $49,553 |
The table uses 4.4% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% 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 San Miguel County's history
1846
Created in 1846 by the United States Army during the Mexican-American War. Wikipedia
1851
Fort Union established. Wikipedia
1879
Railroad harvested timber for railroad ties. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 30,126. The 2020 Census counted 27,201, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
A wildfire in May 2000 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in September 2013 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A flash flood in July 2022 did $2 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flash flood in June 2024 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered San Miguel County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
San Miguel County beside its neighbors
San Miguel County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, San Miguel County ranks 2nd of the seven; Quay County is highest, at 45.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel County, NM | 77 | 26.0% | 45.4% |
| Torrance County, NM | 74 | 20.2% | 34.2% |
| Quay County, NM | 67 | 20.6% | 45.7% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 64 | 22.3% | 40.7% |
| Mora County, NM | 63 | 19.2% | 40.9% |
| Harding County, NM | 47 | 14.4% | 33.4% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 40 | 10.9% | 18.4% |
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 San Miguel County the poorest county in New Mexico?
No, San Miguel County's poverty rate was 26.0% in 2024, 3rd 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, San Miguel County ranks 11th of 33 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in San Miguel 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.
Download the CSV for San Miguel County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
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 San Miguel County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.