Census-designated place · New Mexico

North Hobbs, New Mexico

North Hobbs, census-designated place, in Lea County, New Mexico. North Hobbs had 6,034 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±753). GEOID 3552500.

Residents, 2020-2024

6,034

±753 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 6,529

Median household income

$82,554

±$12,530 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059

Median home value

$264,400

±$14,255 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100

Median gross rent

$1,319

±$179 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067

Where is North Hobbs and what county is it in?

North Hobbs is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Lea County, New Mexico. It covers 26.0 square miles of land, 251 residents per square mile in 2020.

North Hobbs is in the Hobbs, NM micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

North Hobbs (marked with a dot) in Lea County, New Mexico. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in North Hobbs, and is it growing?

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts North Hobbs's population at 6,034 (±753). The 2020 Census counted 6,529 residents.

The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; North Hobbs is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure North HobbsLea CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Total population 6,034 ±753 73,733 2,120,246 no clear change
Households 1,777 ±225 24,670 837,414 −525
Average household size 3.40 ±0.35 2.90 2.48 +0.66
Housing units 1,967 ±222 28,403 956,964 −619

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in North Hobbs?

The median resident of North Hobbs is 31.7 years old; 29.5% are under 18 and 11.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 62.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 36.2%. 18.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure North HobbsLea CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median age 31.7 ±3.6 32.5 39.4 −5.8
Under 18 years 29.5% ±4.4 pts 29.5% 21.7% –
65 years and over 11.0% ±3.1 pts 11.4% 19.3% –
Male 49.3% ±3.8 pts 51.9% 49.7% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 62.1% ±8.2 pts 62.7% 48.4% +18.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 36.2% ±8.3 pts 31.0% 36.0% −18.0 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 3.1% 1.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 0.7% 1.6% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 0.4% 8.5% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.7 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.0% ±0.9 pts 1.8% 3.1% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±1.0 pts 0.2% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 18.1% ±6.2 pts 18.3% 9.4% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 46.3% ±9.3 pts 44.6% 31.3% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.1% ±1.8 pts 3.4% 7.9% –
With a disability 10.3% ±3.0 pts 13.7% 17.0% –
No health insurance coverage 18.1% ±6.4 pts 14.9% 9.6% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 79.0% ±6.2 pts 74.7% 88.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 12.1% ±3.8 pts 15.5% 31.0% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.2% ±1.9 pts 7.4% 13.9% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 90.6% ±5.1 pts 87.0% 88.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.9% ±1.0 pts 2.7% 3.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in North Hobbs earn?

Half of North Hobbs's 1,777 households earn less than $82,554 a year (±$12,530), against $68,015 in Lea County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $86,432 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure North HobbsLea CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $82,554 ±$12,530 $68,015 $64,059 no clear change
Mean household income $97,298 ±$18,418 $91,389 $88,155 –
Per capita income $31,262 ±$5,673 $31,326 $36,218 −$7,653
People below the poverty line 12.8% ±5.2 pts 18.7% 17.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 11.1% ±7.6 pts 23.6% 24.0% –
Households receiving SNAP 15.1% ±5.4 pts 19.8% 19.2% –
Households with a computer 97.6% ±1.9 pts 93.8% 93.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 89.8% ±5.3 pts 86.3% 86.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in North Hobbs?

Owners occupy 85.6% of North Hobbs's occupied homes and renters 14.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,400 by its owner (±$14,255). The median renter pays $1,319 a month including utilities, and 36.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure North HobbsLea CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $264,400 ±$14,255 $184,000 $248,100 +$35,491
Median gross rent $1,319 ±$179 $1,101 $1,067 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 36.4% ±22.9 pts 40.6% 41.7% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,767 ±$197 $1,703 $1,564 –
Owner-occupied homes 85.6% ±5.7 pts 71.2% 70.0% +10.0 pts
Renter-occupied homes 14.4% ±5.7 pts 28.8% 30.0% –
Housing units 1,967 ±222 28,403 956,964 −619
Homeowner vacancy rate 3.1% ±4.6 pts 1.9% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 6.6% ±12.4 pts 8.9% 5.9% –
Single-family detached homes 68.1% ±8.6 pts 68.9% 64.5% –
Mobile homes 25.9% ±8.3 pts 17.3% 15.5% –
Built 2020 or later 4.7% ±4.7 pts 1.8% 1.4% –
Built 2010 to 2019 19.9% ±6.2 pts 14.0% 8.4% –
Built 1939 or earlier 0.7% ±0.9 pts 3.1% 4.4% –
Households with no vehicle 3.7% ±3.6 pts 4.3% 5.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in North Hobbs work and get to work?

74.5% of North Hobbs's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 20.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure North HobbsLea CountyNew Mexico Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 57.6% ±5.9 pts 61.4% 57.8% –
Unemployment rate 6.1% ±3.6 pts 6.9% 6.0% no clear change
Drove alone to work 74.5% ±7.2 pts 75.6% 73.6% –
Carpooled 21.3% ±7.2 pts 18.0% 9.9% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±1.8 pts 0.3% 0.6% –
Walked 0.7% ±1.1 pts 1.4% 1.9% –
Worked from home 1.3% ±1.2 pts 3.7% 12.2% –
Mean travel time to work 20.5 min ±3.6 24.4 min 23.5 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in North Hobbs?

2 census tracts lie mostly in North Hobbs, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in North Hobbs, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in North Hobbs
Tract 7.03Lea County3,790 $123,125 $350,80074%
Tract 7.04Lea County3,059 $54,236 $222,70087%
Tract 5.04Lea County4,249 $89,160 $279,80019%
Tract 7.01Lea County1,796 $76,738 $267,70031%
Tract 5.03Lea County4,147 $75,072 $177,2004%
Tract 5.02Lea County7,745 $51,011 $178,3001%
Tract 7.02Lea County5,076 $103,542 $270,4001%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in North Hobbs) · Census block assignment files

How does North Hobbs compare with other places in New Mexico?

North Hobbs ranks 26th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

North Hobbs's rank in New Mexico (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population (ACS 2020-2024)38th153
Residents per square mile112th155
Median household income26th143
Per capita income68th154
Median home value45th138
Median gross rent16th114
Poverty rate95th109
Bachelor's degree or higher112th128
Median age126th154
Owner-occupied share52nd150
Travel time to work93rd150

North Hobbs's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)

Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare North Hobbs with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for North Hobbs?

16 of the 57 figures for North Hobbs on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for North Hobbs are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.