HomeNew MexicoDoña Ana County

Doña Ana County, New Mexico

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 1% of Doña Ana County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 1%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 12.8% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 31 flood losses here since 2016. 32% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1991.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

1%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

1%

high water table: limits basements

13%

in drought, October 13, 2026

32%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Doña Ana County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)1.3%
High water table (limits basements)1.4%
Septic fields very limited53.8%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)2.1%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)1.4%
Mapped soil2,570,639 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Wink6%n/a
Pintura6%n/a
Nickel5%n/a
Simona5%n/a
Onite4%n/a
Pajarito4%n/a
El Paso County: 4%Luna County: 28%Sierra County: 13%Otero County: 3%Grant County: 38%Hudspeth County: 1%Socorro County: 4%Hidalgo County: 34%Doña Ana County El PasoLunaSierraOteroGrantHudspethSocorroHidalgoDoña Ana
Doña Ana County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas NM688 (2025-09-09), NM690 (2025-09-09), NM719 (2025-09-09), NM781 (2025-09-09)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 9.07 in, 0.80 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 9.87 in.

USDA rates 54% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on 1% and a shallow water table on 1% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Doña Ana County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

Drought

12.8% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 52 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 14 weeks, most recently on the January 20, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse42.7%
D1 moderate drought or worse12.8%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

31 flood losses since 2016, $205,073 paid. The worst year was 2017, with 12.

YearFlood losses
20166
201712
20181
20191
20201
20212
20222
20232
20240
20253
2026 to date1

Rain

Average year, 1991-20209.87 in
12 months to August 20269.07 in (-0.80)
20258.25 in (-1.62)
Wettest year since 18951941: 17.60 in
Driest year since 18951956: 3.71 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at STATE UNIV (6 mi away)1.1

Homes

Housing units92,436
Median year built1991
Built before 198032%
Built 2000 or later35%
Owner-occupied66%
Median value, owner-occupied$220,800
Single-family detached60%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
El Paso County, TX 53 mi 4% 0%
Luna County, NM 54 mi 28% under 1%
Sierra County, NM 57 mi 13% 1%
Otero County, NM 66 mi 3% 2%
Grant County, NM 94 mi 38% under 1%
Hudspeth County, TX 106 mi 1% 1%
Socorro County, NM 114 mi 4% 1%
Hidalgo County, NM 116 mi 34% 1%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 9, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status