CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

34.77° N · 106.64° W · GEOID 3522582

El Cerro Mission

Valencia County, New Mexico · part of the Albuquerque, NM metro

New MexicoEl Cerro Mission, NMEl Cerro MissionEl Cerro Mission

The short answer

El Cerro Mission is home to 5,323 people. Median household income is $49,470 a year and median rent is $1,289 a month, 31.3% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $115,300, about 2.3x annual median household income.

The story in El Cerro Mission is how fast things are changing. Rent took 45.3% of the median income in the 2019 survey and 31.3% in 2023. In the 25 places most like it the share rose 0.2 points on average, so affordability held up better here. Also notable: Owning with a mortgage costs about $72 a month less than the median rent, a rarer pattern than in 95% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 46 New Mexico places we track.

0OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

El Cerro Mission scores better than 0% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 43rd of 43 in New Mexico.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%49
Economy 20%5
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%0
Education 10%1
Commute 10%0
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,289
6% below the median place
Median household income
$49,470
38% below the median place
Median home value
$115,300
64% below the median place
Unemployment
14.8%
203% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about El Cerro Mission

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 31.3% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 46 New Mexico places we track.
01

Moving to El Cerro Mission

Valencia County gains about 14.1 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in3,787
Moved out2,944
Net+843

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within New Mexico, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New MexicoOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$55K
Leavers$49K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Valencia County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
0.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Valencia County report $54,600 a year in income on average; those leaving, $48,900, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$51,600 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,289 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,217 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $115,300.
Getting to work
46 minutes each way on average; 11.1% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
North Hobbs, NM matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
0.0%
below the median place (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving out7
$48,947
30% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year10.0%below (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure14.1above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$54,63323% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$48,94730% below
02

What it costs to live here

After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $35,100 a year, less than in 94% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.

El Cerro Mission31.3%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$51,560
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
31.3%
53% above the median place
Home price to income
2.3x
39% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
32%
over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$34,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in El Cerro Mission, $1,289 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like El Cerro Mission, but easier on the budget

Places that match El Cerro Mission on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
North Hobbs, NM9319.2% vs 31.3%n/aCompare
Temple, GA9018.2% vs 31.3%$41,100Compare
Barbecue, NC8920.9% vs 31.3%n/aCompare
Seagoville, TX8724.8% vs 31.3%$15,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in El Cerro Mission.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to El Cerro Mission? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax paid (median)1
$819
75% below the median place
Median home value1
$115,300
64% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,217
35% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2896% below
Rent to income131.3%53% above
Property tax rate10.7%22% below
Home price to income12.3x39% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure95.55% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,38414% below
HUD area median income4County figure$100,4006% below
Property tax paid (median)1$81975% below
Median home value1$115,30064% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure4.8%50% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure64.8%26% above
Homeownership185.4%29% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure56.2%11% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,21735% below
Vacant homes1County figure10.3%46% above
Median year built119991% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Mean commute1
46 min
85% above the median place
Unemployment1
14.8%
203% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$19,857 −50%
Poverty rate25.0% 2.3×
Median household income$49,470 −38%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$49,47038% below
Income per person1$19,85750% below
Unemployment114.8%203% above
Average annual pay6County figure$51,40122% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.5%5% below
Jobs6County figure17,86488% below
Poverty rate125.0%132% above
Mean commute146 min85% above
Works from home1County figure11.1%11% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Bachelor's or higher is 6.1%, 81% below the median place.

Bachelor's or higher1
6.1%
81% below the median place
High school or higher1
70.1%
24% below the median place
Homes with broadband1
79.5%
14% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size3.3 +33%
No health insurance13.4% 2.1×
Born abroad21.3% 2.4×
Median age34.9 −11%
All 8 people measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,3236400th largest
Median age134.911% below
Bachelor's or higher16.1%81% below
High school or higher170.1%24% below
Household size13.333% above
Born abroad121.3%141% above
No health insurance113.4%109% above
Homes with broadband179.5%14% below
05

Life in El Cerro Mission

OpenStreetMap shows 0 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 46 New Mexico places we track.

22 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.0 −100%
Playgrounds per 10k7.5 −20%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Petroglyph National Monument 26 miles
  • Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument 47 miles
  • Bandelier National Monument 72 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars11.0 −47%
Shops20.1 −34%
Arts, recreation and fitness1.3 −68%
Doctors' offices and clinics8.5 −58%
Child care centers1.8 −22%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
26.2
15% below the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8
1.3
68% below the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
11.0
47% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure27200% above
Public school students12County figure11,956144% above
Students per teacher12County figure17.312% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure11.047% below
Shops per 10k8County figure20.134% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure1.368% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure8.558% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.822% below
Parks per 10k90.0below (median 10.2)
Playgrounds per 10k97.520% below
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1026.215% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1020% above
National Register listings11County figure2269% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Annual precipitation is 10.1 in, 77% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached El Cerro Mission. Larger places are fetched first.

Annual precipitation13
10.1 in
77% below the median place
Tornado risk14
19.2
76% below the median place
July average high13
92°F
6% above the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureEl Cerro MissionAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure92°F6% above
January average low13County figure22°F14% below
Average temperature13County figure56°F2% above
Annual precipitation13County figure10.1 in77% below
Natural hazard risk14County figure82.311% below
Tornado risk14County figure19.276% below
Wildfire risk14County figure87.443% above
Heat wave risk14County figure70.222% below
Median air quality index15County figure442% above
Good air days15County figure75.3%10% above
08

El Cerro Mission in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 32% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 31% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, El Cerro Mission does better than 48% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 73%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,289/mo (2023)$1,690/mo$1,370 to $2,100/mo+4.0%
Median household income$49,470 (2024)$64,500$54,500 to $76,000+4.5%
Median home value$115,300 (2024)$168,000$122,000 to $232,000+6.5%

The median home would be worth 2.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like El Cerro Mission

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Jacinto City, TX$1,242$47,318Compare
Inwood, FL$1,230$55,540Compare
Galena Park, TX$1,184$51,220Compare
Salton City, CA$1,372$47,827Compare
Salton City, CAGalena Park, TXInwood, FLJacinto City, TXEl Cerro Mission, NMEl Cerro MissionJacinto CityInwoodGalena ParkSalton CityEl Cerro MissionJacinto CityInwoodGalena ParkSalton City

Places built like El Cerro Mission

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how El Cerro Mission performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
El Cerro Mission, NM31.3%9.1%/yrn/a
North Hobbs, NM19.2%3.3%/yrn/aCompare
Franklin, CA28.8%2.5%/yrn/aCompare
Harrisville, UT18.6%3.6%/yr1.1%Compare
Temple, GA18.2%9.2%/yr32.0%Compare
Salton City, CA34.4%7.0%/yrn/aCompare
Barbecue, NC20.9%-1.2%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is El Cerro Mission a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 0 out of 100, better than 0% of the places we rate and 43rd of 43 in New Mexico. The median rent takes 31.3% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 46 New Mexico places we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 67 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is El Cerro Mission expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 31.3% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $115,300.

What salary do you need to live in El Cerro Mission?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $51,560 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to El Cerro Mission?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Jacinto City, TX, Inwood, FL, Galena Park, TX and Salton City, CA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares El Cerro Mission with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for El Cerro Mission itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/el-cerro-mission-new-mexico

Citytistics. “El Cerro Mission, New Mexico.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/el-cerro-mission-new-mexico/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.