Otero County, Colorado Income Statistics
Otero County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Otero County Well below averageLess wealthy than 92% of counties in Colorado
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,410 | $95,803 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,630 | $68,113 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.8% | 18.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.5% | 17.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Otero County is about 43% lower than in Colorado. Income has been growing faster in Otero County (6.0%/yr) than in Colorado (5.4%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Otero County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Colorado average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Otero County, Colorado grew by 66.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,410 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Otero County
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.528 | 0.524 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,125 | $78,863 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,699 | $64,818 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.2% | 17.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Otero County, it is 0.528, about the same as Colorado's 0.524, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Otero County, Colorado. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $259,910 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Otero County, Colorado has widened from about 13% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2015, and was narrowest at 7% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,872 since 2009.
Against the trend: the pay gap in Otero County widened by 1.0 points while Colorado's narrowed by 3.6 points.
Employment
| Metric | Otero County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.1% | 21.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 547 people are unemployed in Otero County, Colorado.
The average commute time in Otero County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Colorado.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Otero County, Colorado has fallen from 12.7% to 6.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 4.6% in 2023.
Otero County, CO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Otero County, CO is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 18,321 residents against a local median of 5,647. The measure that sets Otero County, CO apart most is unemployment: 6.7%, 42% above the local median of 4.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.4% on unemployment, so Otero County, CO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Otero County, CO has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otero County, CO | 18,321 | $54,410 #3/6 | 6.0%/yr #1/6 | 6.7% #6/6 | 0.528 #1/6 |
| Crowley County, CO | 5,647 | $47,960 | 5.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.727 |
| Bent County, CO | 5,549 | $50,068 | 5.1%/yr | 5.8% | 0.662 |
| Las Animas County, CO | 14,413 | $52,851 | 2.7%/yr | 5.6% | 0.539 |
| Pueblo County, CO | 169,356 | $64,867 | 5.4%/yr | 4.7% | 0.548 |
| Lincoln County, CO | 5,550 | $60,757 | 5.7%/yr | 1.4% | 0.598 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Otero County, Colorado has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Colorado, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Otero County, Colorado.
How Wealthy Is Otero County, Colorado?
Otero County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,410, about 43% lower than the Colorado average of $95,803.
How has median household income changed in Otero County, Colorado?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Otero County, Colorado rose 67%, from $32,630 to $54,410. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Colorado as a whole: +67% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Otero County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Otero County, Colorado was $54,906, up 14% from $48,300 in 2022. The Colorado median that year was $93,071.
What was the median household income in Otero County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Otero County, Colorado was $43,241. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $54,410.
Is it hard to find a job in Otero County, Colorado?
Unemployment in Otero County, Colorado is 6.7%, well above the Colorado rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Otero County, Colorado?
The Gini coefficient in Otero County is 0.528. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Otero County, Colorado?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Otero County, Colorado has widened from about 13% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2015, and was narrowest at 7% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,872 since 2009.
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