Otero County, New Mexico 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 average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Otero County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,166 | $64,523 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,788 | $52,404 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.0% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Otero County is about 13% lower than in New Mexico. Income has been growing slower in Otero County (3.9%/yr) than in New Mexico (4.4%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Otero 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 Otero County, New Mexico grew by 47.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,166 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Otero County
| Metric | Otero County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.563 | 0.567 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $49,594 | $60,037 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,144 | $51,390 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.0% | 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 Otero County, it is 0.563, about the same as New Mexico's 0.567, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Otero County, New Mexico. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $155,750 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, New Mexico has narrowed from about 27% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,889 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Otero County | New Mexico Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.7% | 12.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 2,268 people are unemployed in Otero County, New Mexico.
The average commute time in Otero County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in New Mexico.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Otero County, New Mexico has fallen from 9.5% to 7.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.1% in 2014 and fell as low as 6.8% in 2019.
Otero County, NM Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Otero County, NM is typical in size for this group, 68,816 residents against a local median of 61,104, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Otero County, NM's unemployment, at 7.3%, runs 27% above the 5.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Otero County, NM sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Otero County, NM has the 5th 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, NM | 68,816 | $56,166 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 7.3% #5/6 | 0.563 #2/6 |
| El Paso County, TX | 870,506 | $59,810 | 4.5%/yr | 5.7% | 0.584 |
| Doña Ana County, NM | 224,261 | $57,291 | 5.0%/yr | 6.7% | 0.583 |
| Lincoln County, NM | 20,223 | $53,596 | 3.8%/yr | 5.1% | 0.529 |
| Hudspeth County, TX | 3,403 | $47,200 | 7.4%/yr | 8.0% | 0.601 |
| Eddy County, NM | 61,104 | $77,819 | 3.6%/yr | 5.5% | 0.571 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Otero County, New Mexico has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than New Mexico, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Otero County, New Mexico.
How Wealthy Is Otero County, New Mexico?
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 $56,166, about 13% lower than the New Mexico average of $64,523.
Are incomes growing in Otero County, New Mexico?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Otero County, New Mexico rose 47%, from $38,180 to $56,166. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New Mexico as a whole: +47% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Otero County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Otero County, New Mexico was $52,906, up 4% from $50,922 in 2022. The New Mexico median that year was $62,406.
What was the median household income in Otero County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Otero County, New Mexico was $45,036. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $56,166.
What is the Gini coefficient in Otero County, New Mexico?
The Gini coefficient in Otero County is 0.563. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Otero County, New Mexico?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Otero County, New Mexico has narrowed from about 27% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,889 since 2009.
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