Hidalgo County, NM Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Hidalgo County, NM

Moderate

Soil across 41.5% of Hidalgo County, NM comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 4.32% linear extensibility. Conventional foundations are the reasonable expectation here, with routine moisture-control practice rather than special engineering.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Hidalgo County, NM - never a reading for one specific parcel. A site-specific soil report, usually $1,000-$5,000, is what an engineer would actually pull before designing a foundation on a lot in Hidalgo County.

Hidalgo County: the real numbers

Hidalgo County's soil reading points toward standard foundation practice as the likely outcome, not the exception. A geotechnical report runs $1,000-$5,000, typically around $2,700. Foundation repair, if a specific lot turns out to differ from the county average, runs $5,000-$15,000.

Where this sits nationally

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Hidalgo County, NM ranks 434 most-constrained nationally, and 3 of 32 within New Mexico. The county spans 3,439 square miles, home to 3,966 people.

For contrast

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Harding County, NM and Refugio County, TX are worth a look for comparison.

How this reading is built, and its real limits · Moisture management: the cheap fix that works on any soil

Elsewhere in New Mexico

Every county in New Mexico is on this site, including De Baca County, NM and Curry County, NM. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.