8th most populous of 33
With 69,711 residents in 2024, Otero County ranks 8th by population among New Mexico's 33 counties and is home to 3.3% of the state's residents.
Otero County is home to 69,711 people (2024 estimate) on 6,613 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
69,711
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
67,836
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.8%
2020–2024
Land area
6,613 mi²
17,126 km²
Population density
10.5 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
741
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
696
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+45
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+313
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$44,665
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$3.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$55,876
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
19.3%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
22.7%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
9.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$162,700
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.3%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202469,711▲ 12%
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 | 69,711 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 63,797 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 62,151 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +12.2% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +546 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −233 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 10.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 10.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in New Mexico | 8th of 33 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $44,665 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $3.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $55,876 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 22.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 9.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $162,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $962/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 36.4 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 24,480 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Otero County in context
Comparable indicators for Otero County, New Mexico and the United States.
| Indicator | County | New Mexico | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +2.8% | +0.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 10.6 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 10.0 | 10.5 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 4.5 | 4.9 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 10.5 | 17.6 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $44,665 | $58,249 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $55,876 | $64,059 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 17.8% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 22.7% | 31.0% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 9.7% | 9.4% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $162,700 | $248,100 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $962/month | $1,067/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 36.4 years | 39.4 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.0% | 70.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Otero County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 62,151 in 2000 to 69,711 in 2024, a change of +12.2%, compared with +17.0% for New Mexico as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 741 births and 696 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 45.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 69,711.
13th in density
Otero County has about 10.5 residents per square mile of land, ranking 13th of 33 counties; New Mexico averages 17.6.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $55,876 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 13th of 33 New Mexico counties; the state median is $64,059.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $3.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 10th largest among 33 New Mexico counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP fell 0.5% 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