New Mexico property taxes by county
Across New Mexico, the median owner-occupied home pays $1,731 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $248,100 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.698%. That ranks New Mexico #34 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 33 New Mexico county-equivalents in the Census data — 33 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 1 of them also carry a full detail card here — every median with its Census margin of error, both rankings, the six nearest counties, and the five-year change. It also sets out how property tax actually works in New Mexico: how property is assessed, which exemptions exist and who qualifies, the deadline and body for an appeal, and the payment schedule and penalties — each hand-sourced from official New Mexico sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 0.698%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $1,731 ± $19
- Median home value
- $248,100
- Median household income
- $64,059
- National rank
- #34 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 33
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across New Mexico
Across New Mexico's 33 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 2.000% in McKinley County down to 0.295% in Taos County — a 6.8× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in New Mexico is $2,717 in Los Alamos County, which ranks #17 of 33 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 2.000%, is in McKinley County, where the median bill is $1,574. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 1 of New Mexico's 33 ranked counties sit above it and 32 below. New Mexico as a whole ranks #34 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $248,100, but within New Mexico it ranges from $495,800 in Los Alamos County to $70,000 in Harding County — the denominator of the effective rate, and the main reason two counties with similar bills can show very different rates.
Statewide, the median real-estate tax bill equals about 2.7% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Bernalillo County (3.8%) and lightest in Harding County (0.6%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 23 of New Mexico's 33 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 10.
Estimate a New Mexico property tax bill
A median-based estimate, not a quote, an assessment, or a tax bill — it cannot know your assessed value, exemptions, or special districts. How this is computed.
Every New Mexico county
All 33 New Mexico county-equivalents in the Census data (33 with a published effective rate). Click a column heading to sort. Counties in bold have a full detail card further down this page — margins of error, nearby counties, and their five-year trend.
| McKinley County | 2.000% | $1,574 | $1,809 | $1,128 | $78,700 | $47,668 | 3.3% | #1 | #86 | +37.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | 0.898% | $2,629 | $2,695 | $2,503 | $292,900 | $69,473 | 3.8% | #2 | #1360 | +23.5% |
| Cibola County | 0.800% | $1,003 | $1,103 | $789 | $125,400 | $50,759 | 2.0% | #3 | #1588 | +53.6% |
| Sandoval County | 0.732% | $2,296 | $2,433 | $2,000 | $313,800 | $86,636 | 2.6% | #4 | #1781 | +25% |
| Mora County | 0.722% | $885 | $858 | $938 | $122,600 | $53,663 | 1.6% | #5 | #1819 | +62.1% |
| Union County | 0.700% | $859 | $933 | $626 | $122,700 | $46,694 | 1.8% | #6 | #1895 | +88% |
| San Juan County | 0.680% | $1,317 | $1,467 | $1,032 | $193,800 | $55,872 | 2.4% | #7 | #1960 | +33.3% |
| Doña Ana County | 0.670% | $1,480 | $1,669 | $1,280 | $220,800 | $56,848 | 2.6% | #8 | #2000 | +35% |
| Valencia County | 0.616% | $1,374 | $1,496 | $1,188 | $223,000 | $58,933 | 2.3% | #9 | #2195 | +24.1% |
| Quay County | 0.610% | $532 | $785 | $445 | $87,200 | $41,946 | 1.3% | #10 | #2226 | +11.3% |
| Socorro County | 0.609% | $838 | $1,573 | $734 | $137,500 | $36,570 | 2.3% | #11 | #2230 | +8.7% |
| Chaves County | 0.598% | $935 | $1,240 | $717 | $156,400 | $52,938 | 1.8% | #12 | #2281 | +27.9% |
| De Baca County | 0.596% | $1,118 | $1,711 | $579 | $187,500 | — | — | #13 | #2286 | +123.6% |
| Curry County | 0.594% | $1,017 | $1,408 | $613 | $171,200 | $57,309 | 1.8% | #14 | #2291 | +55.5% |
| San Miguel County | 0.573% | $1,081 | $1,214 | $1,009 | $188,500 | $49,431 | 2.2% | #15 | #2362 | +47.7% |
| Otero County | 0.554% | $902 | $1,131 | $718 | $162,700 | $55,876 | 1.6% | #16 | #2442 | +36.5% |
| Los Alamos County | 0.548% | $2,717 | $2,755 | $2,645 | $495,800 | $147,139 | 1.9% | #17 | #2461 | +36.1% |
| Luna County | 0.537% | $687 | $793 | $603 | $128,000 | $36,419 | 1.9% | #18 | #2512 | +31.6% |
| Lincoln County | 0.534% | $1,246 | $1,727 | $987 | $233,200 | $53,303 | 2.3% | #19 | #2519 | +7% |
| Colfax County | 0.519% | $867 | $1,129 | $680 | $167,200 | $53,554 | 1.6% | #20 | #2583 | +47.4% |
| Sierra County | 0.517% | $789 | $1,023 | $729 | $152,600 | $41,600 | 1.9% | #21 | #2591 | +30% |
| Eddy County | 0.515% | $1,095 | $1,421 | $800 | $212,600 | $78,426 | 1.4% | #22 | #2599 | +54% |
| Santa Fe County | 0.482% | $2,152 | $2,245 | $2,028 | $446,300 | $79,071 | 2.7% | #23 | #2689 | +28.9% |
| Guadalupe County | 0.478% | $526 | $915 | $343 | $110,000 | $42,750 | 1.2% | #25 | #2705 | +1% |
| Hidalgo County | 0.478% | $531 | $595 | $500 | $111,000 | $48,882 | 1.1% | #24 | #2702 | +21.2% |
| Lea County | 0.478% | $879 | $1,548 | $597 | $184,000 | $68,015 | 1.3% | #26 | #2707 | +48.7% |
| Grant County | 0.460% | $808 | $820 | $797 | $175,600 | $44,958 | 1.8% | #27 | #2765 | +35.6% |
| Roosevelt County | 0.454% | $616 | $821 | $501 | $135,800 | $52,685 | 1.2% | #28 | #2782 | +4.2% |
| Torrance County | 0.450% | $719 | $894 | $596 | $159,700 | $57,842 | 1.2% | #29 | #2796 | −3.2% |
| Harding County | 0.436% | $305 | $875 | $288 | $70,000 | $48,553 | 0.6% | #30 | #2841 | +7% |
| Rio Arriba County | 0.419% | $1,021 | $1,201 | $873 | $243,700 | $57,155 | 1.8% | #31 | #2881 | +29.2% |
| Catron County | 0.364% | $608 | $658 | $585 | $167,000 | $49,864 | 1.2% | #32 | #2985 | +3.2% |
| Taos County | 0.295% | $1,129 | $1,466 | $936 | $382,800 | $58,950 | 1.9% | #33 | #3082 | +13.4% |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-year estimates — tables B25103 (real-estate taxes), B25077 (home value), B19013 (household income) — and the 2024 Census county gazetteer. Public domain (Title 17 U.S.C. §105).
County detail — 1 New Mexico county in depth
Full figures for the New Mexico counties most searched for, each with the Census margin of error on every median, both rankings, the five-year change, and the six nearest county-equivalents by centroid distance — nearby, not necessarily bordering, and cross-state neighbours included. For any individual property's assessed value, exemptions and bill, use that county's own assessor or appraisal district; per-county assessor URLs are never guessed here (why).
Bernalillo County 0.898% · median tax $2,629 · #1360 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $2,629 ± $32
- With a mortgage
- $2,695 ± $37
- Without a mortgage
- $2,503 ± $50
- Median home value
- $292,900 ± $3,423
- Median household income
- $69,473 ± $1,449
- Taxes as share of income
- 3.8%
- Effective rate
- 0.898%
- Rank in New Mexico
- #2 of 33
- National rank
- #1360 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $295,000 home
- $2,649
Median real-estate taxes rose 23.5% over five years ($2,128 → $2,629) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.17 percentage points (1.068% → 0.898%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $199,300 → $292,900 (+47%), and the rate changed −0.17 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Bernalillo County:
- Valencia County, NM — 0.616%, median tax $1,374, 40 km away
- Sandoval County, NM — 0.732%, median tax $2,296, 73 km away
- Santa Fe County, NM — 0.482%, median tax $2,152, 82 km away
- Torrance County, NM — 0.450%, median tax $719, 90 km away
- Los Alamos County, NM — 0.548%, median tax $2,717, 97 km away
- Socorro County, NM — 0.609%, median tax $838, 121 km away
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 — consecutive 5-year estimates share survey sample and are never compared here.
How property tax works in New Mexico
Property tax in New Mexico is administered locally rather than by the state, so every rule below is published by the individual jurisdiction named beside it — a neighbouring county may do it differently. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.
- How property is assessed as published by Bernalillo County
- County assessors value property and are required by NMSA 1978 Section 7-38-20 to mail a Notice of Value by April 1 each year, showing full, taxable and net taxable value. Taxable value is one-third of the total assessed value; net taxable value is that figure minus exemptions such as Head of Family and Veterans', and the county treasurer calculates the tax bill from the net figure. source →
- Exemptions & credits as published by Bernalillo County
- New Mexico has no homestead exemption; the legislature established a Head of Family exemption instead, open to a resident who is married, a widow or widower, a head of household supporting a related person, or a single person. Only one is allowed per household on one property statewide. The Veterans' exemption is $10,000 per year, and disabled veterans receive a percentage exemption tied to their VA disability rating. source →
- Appealing an assessment as published by Bernalillo County
- Return the completed protest form to the County Assessor's Office within 30 days of the Notice of Value's mailing date. An informal meeting with a field appraiser follows; if unresolved, a formal hearing before the Protest Valuation Review Board is scheduled, and its decision may be appealed to District Court. Under NMSA 7-38-39 an owner who has paid may instead file a refund claim in District Court. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties as published by Bernalillo County
- Collection is by the county treasurer, so exact dates are set county by county. In Bernalillo County, tax bills are mailed November 1, the first half is due November 10 with late fees beginning to accrue December 10, and the second half is due April 10 with late fees beginning May 10. source →
- Why rates vary within the state as published by Bernalillo County
- The county assessor certifies the county's full valuation to the State Property Tax Division by June 15. In September the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration sets the tax rates for the year's property taxes, county by county. By October 1 the assessor must deliver the tax schedule and abstract to the county treasurer, after which the assessor has only limited authority to request changes. source →
- What makes this state's system distinctive as published by Bernalillo County
- New Mexico offers a valuation freeze that stops a qualifying home's assessment from increasing 3% the following tax year. It is open to owners 65 or older with modified gross income of $42,900 or less, or people disabled under the Social Security Act or Workers' Compensation Act with income of $41,900 or less. It freezes valuation only; taxes still follow the year's mill rate. source →
Hand-sourced from official government sources — not a substitute for your own assessor's notice, and not legal or tax advice. Where a fact isn't confirmed on an official source, it is left off rather than guessed, which is why some states show fewer rows than others.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average property tax rate in New Mexico?
- Statewide, New Mexico's effective property-tax rate is 0.698% — the state median real-estate taxes ($1,731) divided by the state median home value ($248,100), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts New Mexico at #34 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which New Mexico county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, McKinley County is highest in New Mexico at 2.000% (median bill $1,574), and Taos County is lowest at 0.295% (median bill $1,129). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.
- What property tax exemptions are available in New Mexico?
- New Mexico has no homestead exemption; the legislature established a Head of Family exemption instead, open to a resident who is married, a widow or widower, a head of household supporting a related person, or a single person. Only one is allowed per household on one property statewide. The Veterans' exemption is $10,000 per year, and disabled veterans receive a percentage exemption tied to their VA disability rating. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.
- How do I appeal a property tax assessment in New Mexico?
- Return the completed protest form to the County Assessor's Office within 30 days of the Notice of Value's mailing date. An informal meeting with a field appraiser follows; if unresolved, a formal hearing before the Protest Valuation Review Board is scheduled, and its decision may be appealed to District Court. Under NMSA 7-38-39 an owner who has paid may instead file a refund claim in District Court. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.
- When are property taxes due in New Mexico?
- Collection is by the county treasurer, so exact dates are set county by county. In Bernalillo County, tax bills are mailed November 1, the first half is due November 10 with late fees beginning to accrue December 10, and the second half is due April 10 with late fees beginning May 10. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in New Mexico?
- County assessors value property and are required by NMSA 1978 Section 7-38-20 to mail a Notice of Value by April 1 each year, showing full, taxable and net taxable value. Taxable value is one-third of the total assessed value; net taxable value is that figure minus exemptions such as Head of Family and Veterans', and the county treasurer calculates the tax bill from the net figure. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.
Compare & explore
See the national highest and lowest property-tax rates, or read the methodology behind every figure. The national median effective rate is 0.937%; New Mexico's statewide figure is 0.698%.