Lea County, NM Local Data & Statistics

State: NM

Total population: 73,733 Household income: $68,015 Rent: $1,101

Overview

Total population

73,733

Rent

$1,101

Year built

1979

Household income

$68,015

Per capita income

$31,326

Poverty rate

18.7%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.9 persons

Rent over 30% of income

38.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New Mexico

Total population

73,733

Adults over 25

44,215

Total households

24,670

Household size

2.9 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$68,015

Per capita income

$31,326

Poverty rate

18.7%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

38.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,101

Year built

1979

Households that rent

28.8%

Households that own

71.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

42.9%

Black

3.4%

Asian

1.1%

Two or more races

37.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

62.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

37.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

96.3%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

3.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

38.4%

High school graduate or GED

32.3%

Some college or associate degree

13.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

15.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lea County, NM with: New Mexico United States

Lea County, NM

Total population73,733

Rent$1,101

Year built1979

Household income$68,015

Per capita income$31,326

Poverty rate18.7%

Unemployment rate3.1%

New Mexico State

Total population2,120,246

Rent$1,067

Year built1985

Household income$64,059

Per capita income$36,218

Poverty rate17.8%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyLea County, NM	StateNew Mexico	CountryUnited States
Total population	73,733	2,120,246	334,922,499
Rent	$1,101	$1,067	$1,413
Year built	1979	1985	1980
Household income	$68,015	$64,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,326	$36,218	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.7%	17.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lea County, NM, New Mexico and United States →

Summary for Lea County, NM

Lea County is located in New Mexico .

Rent & Income

In Lea County, the monthly rent is $1,101 and household income is $68,015. Rent is similar to New Mexico and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than New Mexico and lower than the U.S. The poverty rate is 18.7%, which is higher than both New Mexico and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 28.8% of households. Around 38.6% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 15.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than both New Mexico and the national rate.

Lea County, NM — Rent vs Household Income

Lea County, NM — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Lea County, NM (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,101 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lea County, NM

Annual Household Income: $68,015

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lea County, NM

Estimated Rate: 18.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lea County, NM

In Lea County, NM, households that rent: 7,111 (28.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	7,111	28.8%
Owner-Occupied	17,559	71.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lea County, NM

In Lea County, NM, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,744 (38.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,744	38.6%
Other renter households	4,367	61.4%
Total renter households	7,111	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lea County, NM

Less than High School: 16,958 people (38.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 14,279 people (32.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,108 people (13.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,870 people (15.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 44,215

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lea County, NM

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.