COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Lea County

New Mexico · 55,765 residents · 4,391.552 sq mi

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The short version

Lea County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $23,352. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $39,300. The poverty rate of 22.4% is well above the national figure.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Younger

median age 30.5

US median: 33.0

Less educated

11% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

55,765

Unchangedvs 2000

vs 55,511 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

30.5

−8%vs 2000

vs 33.1 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Population, 1990 – 2024

202474K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 58.6%(4,775)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 910.1%(5,623)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 149.5%(5,313)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197.9%(4,426)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245.8%(3,245)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3415.9%(8,894)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4413.8%(7,710)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 548.8%(4,911)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 648.7%(4,876)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 746.6%(3,673)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 843.3%(1,857)

US avg: 4%

85 and over0.8%(462)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$23,352

+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $29,799 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$10,025

−29%vs 2000

vs $14,184 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

22.4%

+1.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 21.1% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$39,300

+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $47,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$312

+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $388 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

71.5%

−1.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 72.6% in 2000

28.5% rent

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%

1990

White, non-Hispanic82.3%(45,922)

Black4.3%(2,425)

Hispanic / Latino29.4%(16,419)

Asian0.5%(298)

Other12.8%(7,120)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican55.8%(41,160)

Central American0.8%(560)

Cuban0.5%(381)

Salvadoran0.5%(375)

Spaniard0.3%(238)

Guatemalan0.2%(166)

Puerto Rican0.2%(143)

Honduran0%(16)

Dominican0%(3)

Costa Rican0%(3)

Asian origin

Filipino0.7%(501)

Nepalese0.2%(169)

Pakistani0.1%(51)

Asian Indian0.1%(47)

Vietnamese0%(11)

Chinese0%(9)

Pacific Islander origin

Native Hawaiian0%(17)

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)

Subsaharan African0.4%(315)

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)

French Canadian0.1%(90)

Greek0.1%(75)

British0.1%(55)

West Indian0.1%(52)

Hungarian0.1%(51)

Romanian0.1%(47)

Arab0.1%(45)

Brazilian0.1%(40)

Portuguese0%(32)

Belgian0%(30)

Nigerian0%(21)

Moroccan0%(16)

Russian0%(16)

Trinidadian & Tobagonian0%(16)

Jordanian0%(15)

Lebanese0%(14)

Kenyan0%(13)

Australian0%(10)

Slovak0%(10)

Haitian0%(7)

Canadian0%(4)

Ethiopian0%(4)

RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

11.5%

−0.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 11.6% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

63.8%

−3.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 67.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

3.9%

−0.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 4.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

15.8 min

+16%vs 2000

vs 13.7 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County, New Mexico has about 55,765 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Lea County, New Mexico earns about $23,352 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 $39,300, and the typical rent is about $312 a month.

How educated are people in Lea County, New Mexico?

About 11.5% 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 22.4% of people in Lea County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →