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COUNTY

Lea County

New Mexico · 74,749 residents (2025 est.) · 4,391.552 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#121Youngest by median ageof 3,14432.5#137Most foreign-born residentsof 3,14418.3%
The short version

Lea County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,015. Population has grown 33% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $184,000. At a median age of 32.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 114%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
73,733
+33%since 2000
from 55,511 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
+27%since 2009
from 13 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
32.5
−2%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:74,749 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
54K59K65K71K76K1990201020202024Lea County
202474K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.9%(5,789)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.4%(6,200)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(5,849)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.6%(6,367)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.2%(5,313)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.1%(10,412)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.6%(10,009)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(7,933)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.1%(7,483)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747%(5,144)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.9%(2,142)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(1,092)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,015
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,799 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,326
+121%since 2000
from $14,184 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.0%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+13%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing14.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance11.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services4.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$184,000
+114%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,101
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $388 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
28.8% rent
Vacancy rate
13.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+43%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lea County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic54%(29,977)
Black4.2%(2,340)
Hispanic / Latino39.6%(22,010)
Asian0.4%(198)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic31%(22,854)
Black3.1%(2,307)
Hispanic / Latino62.7%(46,266)
Asian0.7%(491)
Other2.5%(1,815)
Diversity Score
64
−10%since 2009
from 70 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
31
+1%since 2020
from 31 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
Mexican55.8%(41,160)
Cuban0.5%(381)
Salvadoran0.5%(375)
Spaniard0.3%(238)
Guatemalan0.2%(166)
Puerto Rican0.2%(143)
Honduran0%(16)
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(501)
Nepalese0.2%(169)
Pakistani0.1%(51)
Asian Indian0.1%(47)
Chinese0%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(8)
Ancestry
German6%(4,398)
English5.6%(4,117)
American5.5%(4,051)
Irish5.1%(3,754)
Italian0.7%(544)
French0.7%(521)
Scottish0.5%(383)
Dutch0.4%(267)
Welsh0.3%(257)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(212)
Norwegian0.2%(170)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.2%(160)
Polish0.2%(141)
Czech0.2%(137)
Swedish0.2%(137)
Swiss0.1%(99)
Greek0.1%(75)
British0.1%(55)
West Indian0.1%(52)
Hungarian0.1%(51)
Romanian0.1%(47)
Arab0.1%(45)
Brazilian0.1%(40)
Belgian0%(30)
Nigerian0%(21)
Moroccan0%(16)
Russian0%(16)
Jordanian0%(15)
Lebanese0%(14)
Kenyan0%(13)
Slovak0%(10)
Haitian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
74.7%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 67.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.4 min
+78%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 60.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.6%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
18.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−47.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.9%
−62.6 ptssince 2013
from 77.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.3%
+12.9 ptssince 2017
from 73.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
55.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 58.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
43.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 40.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.4%(11,719)
Married47.1%(13,669)
Widowed3%(863)
Divorced9.6%(2,777)
Women 15+
Never married30%(8,069)
Married49.6%(13,327)
Widowed8.3%(2,243)
Divorced12%(3,228)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Lea County to nearby counties

LEA COUNTY VS
Yoakum County
Income$84,925+25%
Home value$182,600−1%
Population7,438−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Gaines County
Income$74,132+9%
Home value$200,700+9%
Population23,956−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Andrews County
Income$72,242+6%
Home value$195,700+6%
Population18,914−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$78,426+15%
Home value$212,600+16%
Population62,509−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County, New Mexico has about 73,733 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lea County, New Mexico?

The typical household in Lea County, New Mexico earns about $68,015 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lea County, New Mexico expensive?

In Lea County, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $184,000, and the typical rent is about $1,101 a month.

How educated are people in Lea County, New Mexico?

About 15.5% of adults age 25 and over in Lea County, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lea County, New Mexico?

About 18.7% of people in Lea County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lea County, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Lea County, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 17,968 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

18 census tracts
Census Tract 5.02Census Tract 6Census Tract 7.02Census Tract 3Census Tract 11Census Tract 10.04Census Tract 5.04Census Tract 4Census Tract 5.03Census Tract 10.03Census Tract 2Census Tract 7.03Census Tract 10.05Census Tract 8Census Tract 7.04Census Tract 1Census Tract 9Census Tract 7.01
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 88240ZIP 88260ZIP 88242ZIP 88231ZIP 88252ZIP 88267ZIP 88244ZIP 88265ZIP 88262ZIP 88114ZIP 88264
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Lea County, New Mexico: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy