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COUNTY

Otero County

Colorado · 17,683 residents (2025 est.) · 1,261.946 sq mi
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The short version

Otero County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,037. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $168,900. The poverty rate of 22.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the Colorado median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,321
−10%since 2000
from 20,311 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
15 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 15 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.8
+11%since 2000
from 37.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,683 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K19K19K20K21K1990201020202024Otero County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(1,028)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(913)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.2%(1,498)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(1,327)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(994)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(2,017)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(2,320)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(1,973)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.9%(2,357)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(2,247)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(989)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.6%(658)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,037
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,738 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,645
+90%since 2000
from $15,113 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.3%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.424
−3%since 2010
from 0.439 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Construction5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$168,900
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$839
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 69.1% in 2000
31.1% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+11%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Otero County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic59.2%(12,014)
Black0.5%(111)
Hispanic / Latino37.6%(7,642)
Asian0.7%(134)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.4%(9,597)
Black1.1%(197)
Hispanic / Latino42%(7,695)
Asian0.7%(137)
Other3.8%(695)
Diversity Score
68
+6%since 2009
from 65 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−4%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican34.3%(6,280)
Spaniard1%(185)
Ecuadorian0.6%(106)
Costa Rican0.1%(26)
Peruvian0.1%(25)
Puerto Rican0.1%(19)
Panamanian0.1%(12)
Cuban0%(5)
Asian origin
Pakistani0.3%(51)
Korean0.1%(26)
Mongolian0.1%(16)
Filipino0.1%(16)
Japanese0.1%(13)
Chinese0%(7)
Ancestry
German15.6%(2,862)
English11.5%(2,116)
Irish8.2%(1,497)
American4.3%(784)
Italian3.5%(640)
French3.1%(559)
Scottish2.1%(387)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(207)
Dutch1%(179)
Swedish0.9%(173)
Arab0.7%(120)
Norwegian0.6%(115)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.5%(89)
British0.5%(86)
Welsh0.3%(64)
Polish0.3%(50)
Greek0.3%(46)
Finnish0.2%(44)
Lebanese0.2%(43)
Czech0.2%(31)
Ukrainian0.2%(28)
Swiss0.1%(23)
Portuguese0.1%(21)
Russian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.7%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+60%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 74.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 12.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 57.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
25.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.2%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 64.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 18.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−73.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+12.9 ptssince 2017
from 71.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 83.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 14.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.9%(2,576)
Married47%(3,468)
Widowed7.6%(560)
Divorced10.6%(780)
Women 15+
Never married24.6%(1,846)
Married49.3%(3,697)
Widowed12.4%(931)
Divorced13.7%(1,024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Otero County to nearby counties

OTERO COUNTY VS
Crowley County
Income$48,826−10%
Home value$116,200−31%
Population5,677−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTERO COUNTY VS
Bent County
Income$50,179−7%
Home value$146,900−13%
Population5,716−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTERO COUNTY VS
Las Animas County
Income$52,074−4%
Home value$237,600+41%
Population14,391−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OTERO COUNTY VS
Pueblo County
Income$64,010+18%
Home value$291,300+72%
Population169,277+857%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Otero County, Colorado?

Otero County, Colorado has about 18,321 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Otero County, Colorado?

The typical household in Otero County, Colorado earns about $54,037 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Otero County, Colorado expensive?

In Otero County, Colorado, the median home is worth about $168,900, and the typical rent is about $839 a month.

How educated are people in Otero County, Colorado?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Otero County, Colorado hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Otero County, Colorado?

About 22.1% of people in Otero County, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.

Has Otero County, Colorado grown since 1990?

Yes, Otero County, Colorado has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,864 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9686Census Tract 9683Census Tract 9681Census Tract 9682Census Tract 9685Census Tract 9680Census Tract 9684
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 81050ZIP 81067ZIP 81058ZIP 81077ZIP 81030
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →