Otero County, CO Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,982 | 5,847,426 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 14.2 | 56.2 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.02% | 1.14% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 42.1 | 35.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,643 | 2,319,504 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Otero County declined by 2.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 18,460 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Otero County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,906 | $93,055 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.93% | 5.76% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Otero County is about 41% lower than in Colorado.
Housing
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $309,434 | $480,058 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $795 | $1,692 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 66.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Otero County is about 32.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $795 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Otero County spend about 24 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 102 hours, about 4.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 12.2 | 22.2 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 24.4 | 44.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 102 | 185 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,154 | $5,727 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 18.8% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,928 | 8,183 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 189 | 1,277 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Colorado:
Hinsdale County (6.4 min), Rio Blanco County (7.7 min), Prowers County (8.0 min).
Slowest:
Park County (42.2 min), Elbert County (42.2 min), Custer County (30.9 min).
The average commute time in Otero County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Colorado.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Otero County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 40.2% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.35 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Colorado:
Boulder County (0.5), Douglas County (0.4), Broomfield County (0.4).
Lowest:
Crowley County (0.2), Bent County (0.2), Lincoln County (0.2).
Health
Otero County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.9 | 80.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.6% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.7% | 16.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Colorado:
Douglas County (0.9), Boulder County (0.8), Broomfield County (0.8).
Lowest:
Costilla County (0.8), Otero County (0.8), Bent County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Otero County, Colorado.
What is the population of Otero County, Colorado?
The population of Otero County, Colorado is 17,982, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Otero County, Colorado?
The population density of Otero County, Colorado is 14.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Otero County, Colorado?
The median household income in Otero County, Colorado is $54,906, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Otero County, Colorado?
The median home price in Otero County, Colorado is $309,434, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Otero County, Colorado?
The unemployment rate in Otero County, Colorado is 4.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.