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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Lea County

New Mexico · 64,727 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 $43,910. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $87,500. At a median age of 31.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.9
US median: 37.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
64,727
+17%since 2000
from 55,511 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
15 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 13 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
31.9
−4%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K59K65K71K76K1990201020202024Lea County
202474K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,910
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,799 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,637
+38%since 2000
from $14,184 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing19.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing17%
US avg: 0.5%
Information10%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 4.2%
Retail trade4.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 7%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$87,500
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$629
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $388 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
35.4%
−37.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
30.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
15.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.0
+26%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score66.6%(36,980)
2010
White, non-Hispanic43%(27,845)
Black3.7%(2,399)
Hispanic / Latino51.1%(33,063)
Asian0.5%(302)
Other1.7%(1,078)
Diversity Score69%(44,644)
Diversity Score
69
+4%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
72.7%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 67.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+28%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
24.3%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
12.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.0%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lea County

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Pop 76,664
Mendocino County
Pop 88,122
Williamson County
Pop 67,225
Adams County
Pop 64,267
Places similar to Lea County
Head to head

Compare Lea County to nearby counties

LEA COUNTY VS
Yoakum County
Income$84,925+93%
Home value$182,600+109%
Population7,438−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Gaines County
Income$74,132+69%
Home value$200,700+129%
Population23,956−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Andrews County
Income$72,242+65%
Home value$195,700+124%
Population18,914−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$78,426+79%
Home value$212,600+143%
Population62,509−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County, New Mexico has about 64,727 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lea County, New Mexico earns about $43,910 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 $87,500, and the typical rent is about $629 a month.

How educated are people in Lea County, New Mexico?

About 12.9% 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 17.7% 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 8,962 residents, a change of about 16 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

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