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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lea County

New Mexico · 74,455 residents · 4,391.552 sq mi
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The short version

Lea County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $61,867. Population has grown 34% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $138,600. At a median age of 32.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 95%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
74,455
+34%since 2000
from 55,511 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 13 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.3
−2%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K59K65K71K76K1990201020202024Lea County
202474K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,867
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,799 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,551
+87%since 2000
from $14,184 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.6%
+15.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.2%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing18.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing17.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Information10.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 10%
Education & health services3.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$138,600
+95%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$911
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $388 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
66.6%
−6.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
33.4% rent
Afford Score
2.2
+41%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic31.9%(23,775)
Black3.4%(2,497)
Hispanic / Latino60.7%(45,193)
Asian0.9%(636)
Other1.9%(1,418)
Diversity Score64.5%(48,019)
Segregation Score30.7%(22,842)
Diversity Score
64
−3%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
75.6%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 67.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+72%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 60.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.5%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
48.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
17.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.1%
−64.4 ptssince 2013
from 77.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+37%
Home value$182,600+32%
Population7,438−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Gaines County
Income$74,132+20%
Home value$200,700+45%
Population23,956−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Andrews County
Income$72,242+17%
Home value$195,700+41%
Population18,914−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEA COUNTY VS
Eddy County
Income$78,426+27%
Home value$212,600+53%
Population62,509−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County, New Mexico has about 74,455 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lea County, New Mexico earns about $61,867 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 $138,600, and the typical rent is about $911 a month.

How educated are people in Lea County, New Mexico?

About 14.6% 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 16.2% 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 18,690 residents, a change of about 34 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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