Otero County, Colorado Demographics 2026
Otero County, Colorado has a population of 18,321, the 27th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $54,037 and the median home value is $168,900. The poverty rate is 22.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Otero County Quick Facts
How Otero County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,460 | 18,321 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $54,897 | $54,037 | -1.6% |
| Median home value | $160,700 | $168,900 | +5.1% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 52 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Otero County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Junta | 7,140 | $52,315 | 27.4% | $194,800 |
| Rocky Ford | 3,815 | $40,655 | 31.7% | $143,900 |
| Fowler | 936 | $44,048 | 18.5% | $143,900 |
| North La Junta | 535 | $47,941 | 5.1% | $120,800 |
| Swink | 422 | $44,219 | 6.6% | $163,000 |
| Manzanola | 361 | $36,010 | 8.6% | $128,300 |
| Cheraw | 188 | $52,857 | 14.9% | $125,000 |
| La Junta Gardens | 112 | $83,701 | 0.0% | $230,300 |
Explore Colorado Rankings
Population Overview
Otero County is located in Colorado with a total population of 18,321. It is the 27th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Otero County is 41.8 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Otero County is $54,037. This is 43% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.1%. This is 134% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 45% higher than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $168,900. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Otero County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 42.0%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (42.0% vs 22.5%). The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.
Education
18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 45.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Otero County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Colorado and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Otero County, Colorado?
Otero County has a population of 18,321, making it the 27th most populous county in Colorado.
What is the median income in Otero County?
The median household income in Otero County is $54,037 with a poverty rate of 22.1%.
How many cities are in Otero County, Colorado?
Otero County contains 8 Census-designated places.