Lea County, NM 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 | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,611 | 2,109,122 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 16.3 | 17.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.86% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 33.0 | 37.7 | 37.1 |
| Households | 24,568 | 824,565 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Lea County grew by 26.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 73,155 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Lea County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,054 | $62,378 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.32% | 4.57% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Lea County is about 9% higher than in New Mexico.
Housing
| Metric | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $150,454 | $197,886 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,119 | $1,020 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.5% | 69.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Lea County is about 11.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,119 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Lea County spend about 27 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 114 hours, about 4.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.7 | 18.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.4 | 37.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 114 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,533 | $4,840 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 11.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,428 | 4,931 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 429 | 619 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New Mexico:
De Baca County (7.3 min), Quay County (8.7 min), Union County (10.1 min).
Slowest:
Mora County (48.6 min), Torrance County (33.7 min), Sandoval County (30.1 min).
The average commute time in Lea County is 14 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in New Mexico.
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
Lea County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 26.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.89 | 2.52 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New Mexico:
Los Alamos County (0.6), Santa Fe County (0.4), Bernalillo County (0.3).
Lowest:
Guadalupe County (0.2), Luna County (0.2), McKinley County (0.2).
Health
Lea County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Lea County | New Mexico Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.9 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.9% | 17.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 19.8% | 18.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New Mexico:
Los Alamos County (0.8), Santa Fe County (0.8), Bernalillo County (0.8).
Lowest:
McKinley County (0.8), Cibola County (0.8), Luna County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lea County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Lea County, New Mexico?
The population of Lea County, New Mexico is 71,611, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Lea County, New Mexico?
The population density of Lea County, New Mexico is 16.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Lea County, New Mexico?
The median household income in Lea County, New Mexico is $68,054, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Lea County, New Mexico?
The median home price in Lea County, New Mexico is $150,454, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Lea County, New Mexico?
The unemployment rate in Lea County, New Mexico is 7.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.