7th most populous of 33
With 75,151 residents in 2024, Lea County ranks 7th by population among New Mexico's 33 counties and is home to 3.5% of the state's residents.
Lea County is home to 75,151 people (2024 estimate) on 4,392 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
75,151
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
74,457
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+0.9%
2020–2024
Land area
4,392 mi²
11,374 km²
Population density
17.1 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
868
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
627
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+241
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+1,400
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$59,387
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$12.9 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$68,015
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
18.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
15.5%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
18.3%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$184,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.5%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202475,151▲ 36%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 75,151 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 64,727 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 55,264 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +36.0% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +1,671 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −271 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 11.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 8.3 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in New Mexico | 7th of 33 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $59,387 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $12.9 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $68,015 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 15.5% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 18.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $184,000 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,101/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 32.5 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 24,670 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Lea County in context
Comparable indicators for Lea County, New Mexico and the United States.
| Indicator | County | New Mexico | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +0.9% | +0.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 11.6 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 8.3 | 10.5 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 18.6 | 4.9 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 17.1 | 17.6 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $59,387 | $58,249 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $68,015 | $64,059 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 17.8% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 15.5% | 31.0% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 18.3% | 9.4% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $184,000 | $248,100 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,101/month | $1,067/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 32.5 years | 39.4 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.2% | 70.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Hobbs
40,000 residents
Did you know? Lea County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 55,264 in 2000 to 75,151 in 2024, a change of +36.0%, compared with +17.0% for New Mexico as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 868 births and 627 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 241.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 75,151.
9th in density
Lea County has about 17.1 residents per square mile of land, ranking 9th of 33 counties; New Mexico averages 17.6.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $68,015 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 6th of 33 New Mexico counties; the state median is $64,059.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $12.9 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 2nd largest among 33 New Mexico counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 19.2% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS