Lea County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Name: Lea County, New Mexico Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Lea County, New Mexico has a population of 73,733, the 7th most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $68,015 and the median home value is $184,000. The poverty rate is 18.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lea County Quick Facts

Population 73,733

Median Household Income $68,015

Median Home Value $184,000

Poverty Rate 18.7%

Unemployment Rate 6.9%

Median Age 32.5 years

Homeownership Rate 71.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.5%

High School Graduation 74.7%

Cities/Places 8

Population 73,733 7th of 33

Median Income $68,015 6% higher than state

Poverty Rate 18.7%

Unemployment 6.9%

How Lea 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	73,154	73,733	+0.8%
Median household income	$68,750	$68,015	-1.1%
Median home value	$176,000	$184,000	+4.5%

Median Household Income

Lea

$68,015

$64,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lea

$184,000

$248,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.8%

$25K-$50K 18.5%

$50K-$100K 27.8%

$100K+ 32.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.1%

$10K-$15K

3.7%

$15K-$20K

3.4%

$20K-$25K

4.7%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

4.4%

$35K-$40K

4.6%

$40K-$45K

3.0%

$45K-$50K

1.9%

$50K-$60K

7.2%

$60K-$75K

7.5%

$75K-$100K

13.1%

$100K-$125K

8.8%

$125K-$150K

6.3%

$150K-$200K

8.7%

$200K+

9.1%

Employment

6.9% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

61.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%

Renter 28.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,101/mo 19.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

29.5%

18-34

24.6%

35-54

24.3%

55-74

17.1%

75+

4.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Lea County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hobbs	40,252	$64,021	19.7%	$191,300
Lovington	11,498	$68,821	25.0%	$166,100
North Hobbs	6,034	$82,554	12.8%	$264,400
Eunice	3,015	$49,087	12.9%	$139,800
Jal	2,364	N/A	32.0%	$97,600
Tatum	598	N/A	20.4%	$111,200
Monument	432	N/A	2.5%	$261,400
Nadine	271	$120,074	4.4%	$221,000

Explore New Mexico Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Lea County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 73,733. It is the 7th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lea County is 32.5 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 39.4 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Lea County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lea County is $68,015. This is 6% higher than the state median of $64,059. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.7%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $184,000. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Lea County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lea County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 62.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 31.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (3.1% vs 1.8%). The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

15.5% 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 50% lower than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 74.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lea County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Mexico 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 Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County has a population of 73,733, making it the 7th most populous county in New Mexico.

What is the median income in Lea County?

The median household income in Lea County is $68,015 with a poverty rate of 18.7%.

How many cities are in Lea County, New Mexico?

Lea County contains 8 Census-designated places.