Lincoln County, New Mexico Income Statistics
Lincoln 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
Lincoln County Well below averageWealthier than 81% of counties in New Mexico
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lincoln County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,596 | $64,523 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,271 | $52,404 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.6% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lincoln County is about 17% lower than in New Mexico. Income has been growing slower in Lincoln County (3.8%/yr) than in New Mexico (4.4%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Lincoln County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New Mexico average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lincoln County, New Mexico grew by 22.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $53,596 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lincoln County
| Metric | Lincoln County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.567 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,366 | $60,037 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,919 | $51,390 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.8% | 14.4% | 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 Lincoln County, it is 0.529, lower than New Mexico's 0.567, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $295,645 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, New Mexico has narrowed from about 26% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and was narrowest at 15% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,030 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lincoln County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 12.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 454 people are unemployed in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
The average commute time in Lincoln County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in New Mexico.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lincoln County, New Mexico has risen from 5.0% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.8% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2018.
Lincoln County, NM Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lincoln County, NM is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,223 residents against a local median of 15,478. Lincoln County, NM's unemployment, at 5.1%, runs 30% below the 7.3% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.8%/yr against a local median of 5.1%/yr, 26% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Lincoln County, NM is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 6.4% on unemployment, so Lincoln County, NM sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lincoln County, NM has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, NM | 20,223 | $53,596 #3/6 | 3.8%/yr #5/6 | 5.1% #3/6 | 0.529 #3/6 |
| Torrance County, NM | 15,478 | $58,548 | 8.2%/yr | 9.0% | 0.528 |
| Chaves County, NM | 64,216 | $52,973 | 3.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.581 |
| Otero County, NM | 68,816 | $56,166 | 3.9%/yr | 7.3% | 0.563 |
| De Baca County, NM | 1,576 | $46,907 | 5.1%/yr | 8.4% | 0.448 |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 4,381 | $42,972 | 6.1%/yr | 2.6% | 0.596 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lincoln County, New Mexico has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with New Mexico, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
How Rich Is Lincoln County, New Mexico?
Lincoln 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 $53,596, about 17% lower than the New Mexico average of $64,523.
How has median household income changed in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lincoln County, New Mexico rose 22%, from $43,893 to $53,596. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New Mexico as a whole: +22% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lincoln County, New Mexico was $53,006, up 13% from $46,937 in 2022. The New Mexico median that year was $62,406.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lincoln County, New Mexico was $44,912. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $53,596.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
The Gini coefficient in Lincoln County is 0.529. 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 Lincoln County, New Mexico?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, New Mexico has narrowed from about 26% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and was narrowest at 15% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,030 since 2009.
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