County · New Mexico

Lea County, New Mexico

Lea County, New Mexico. Lea County had 74,749 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.4% since 2020, in line with New Mexico (+0.4%). It holds 8 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 18 census tracts. GEOID 35025.

Lea County is the county of the Hobbs, NM micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

74,749

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 74,455 · ACS 2020-2024: 73,733

Median household income

$68,015

±$5,605 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059

Median home value

$184,000

±$8,831 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100

Median gross rent

$1,101

±$52 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067

How many people live in Lea County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 74,455 residents in Lea County. The Census Bureau estimates 74,749 for July 1, 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, in line with New Mexico (+0.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 73,733 over 4,392 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −1,566 (73,068)
2021→2022 −808 (72,260)
2022→2023 +954 (73,214)
2023→2024 +1,232 (74,446)
2024→2025 +303 (74,749)

Lea County in New Mexico. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Lea County	New Mexico	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	73,733	2,120,246	+3,456
Households	24,670±504	837,414	+2,147
Average household size	2.90±0.06	2.48	−0.10
Housing units	28,403±55	956,964	+1,793

Lea County's population since 2000

From 55,511 in 2000 to 74,749 in 2025: up 34.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 55,511
2005 (estimate) 58,331
2010 Census 64,727
2015 (estimate) 71,480
2020 Census 74,455
2025 (estimate) 74,749

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

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

What cities and towns are in Lea County?

Lea County holds 8 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Hobbs with 40,863 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Lea County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hobbs	city	40,508	40,252±27	$64,021	$191,300	19.7%	100%
Lovington	city	11,668	11,498±22	$68,821	$166,100	25.0%	100%
North Hobbs	CDP	6,529	6,034±753	$82,554	$264,400	12.8%	100%
Eunice	city	3,056	3,015±15	$49,087	$139,800	12.9%	100%
Jal	city	2,202	2,364±416	not published	$97,600	32.0%	100%
TatumGEOID 3576620	town	706	598±246	not published	$111,200	20.4%	100%
NadineGEOID 3550720	CDP	477	271±208	$120,074	$221,000	4.4%	100%
MonumentGEOID 3549950	CDP	213	432±497	not published	$261,400	2.5%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Lea County?

The median resident of Lea County is 32.5 years old; 29.5% are under 18 and 11.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 62.7%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 31.0%. 18.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Lea County	New Mexico	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	32.5±0.3	39.4	+0.7
Under 18 years	29.5%±0.1 pts	21.7%	–
65 years and over	11.4%±0.1 pts	19.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	62.7%	48.4%	+4.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	31.0%±0.2 pts	36.0%	−4.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	3.1%±0.4 pts	1.8%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.1 pts	1.6%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	8.5%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.8%±0.5 pts	3.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	18.3%±1.6 pts	9.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	44.6%±2.0 pts	31.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	3.4%±0.6 pts	7.9%	–
With a disability	13.7%±1.2 pts	17.0%	–
No health insurance coverage	14.9%±1.6 pts	9.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	74.7%±2.0 pts	88.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	15.5%±1.7 pts	31.0%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.4%±1.0 pts	13.9%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.7%±0.8 pts	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 Lea County earn?

Half of Lea County's 24,670 households earn less than $68,015 a year (±$5,605), against $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 it was $74,514 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lea County	New Mexico	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,015±$5,605	$64,059	no clear change
Mean household income	$91,389±$7,488	$88,155	–
Per capita income	$31,326±$2,273	$36,218	no clear change
People below the poverty line	18.7%±2.6 pts	17.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	23.6%±4.4 pts	24.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	19.8%±2.5 pts	19.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.3%±1.8 pts	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 Lea County?

Owners occupy 71.2% of Lea County's occupied homes and renters 28.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,000 by its owner (±$8,831). The median renter pays $1,101 a month including utilities, and 40.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lea County	New Mexico	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$184,000±$8,831	$248,100	+$20,195
Median gross rent	$1,101±$52	$1,067	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	40.6%±6.9 pts	41.7%	+11.6 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,703±$76	$1,564	–
Owner-occupied homes	71.2%±2.4 pts	70.0%	+4.4 pts
Housing units	28,403±55	956,964	+1,793
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.9%±1.1 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.9%±3.0 pts	5.9%	–
Single-family detached homes	68.9%±2.3 pts	64.5%	–
Mobile homes	17.3%±1.9 pts	15.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.8%±0.7 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.1%±1.0 pts	4.4%	–

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 many new homes is Lea County building?

Builders took permits for 143 new housing units across Lea County in 2025 (143 single-family), 1.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 164 units
2020 147 units
2021 211 units
2022 129 units
2023 186 units
2024 172 units
2025 143 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Lea County get to work?

75.6% of Lea County's workers drive alone and 3.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lea County	New Mexico	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	61.4%±1.6 pts	57.8%	–
Unemployment rate	6.9%±1.5 pts	6.0%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	75.6%±2.5 pts	73.6%	–
Carpooled	18.0%±2.3 pts	9.9%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	1.4%±0.8 pts	1.9%	–
Worked from home	3.7%±1.1 pts	12.2%	+1.4 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.4 min±2.2	23.5 min	+3.2 min

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 are Lea County's census tracts?

Lea County is divided into 18 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,313 (Tract 3) to $123,125 (Tract 7.03).

Census tracts of Lea County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 135025000100	Hobbs	3,013	2,513±720	$48,512	$97,300	$1,106	29.9%
Tract 235025000200	Hobbs (90%)	3,778	3,884±1,097	$38,068	$117,500	$1,085	24.9%
Tract 335025000300	Hobbs (95%)	4,150	4,811±772	$43,313	$99,600	$1,090	23.8%
Tract 435025000400	Hobbs (98%)	3,593	4,223±960	$47,802	$161,100	$987	22.1%
Tract 5.0235025000502	Hobbs (87%)	8,810	7,745±1,195	$51,011	$178,300	$1,170	28.5%
Tract 5.0335025000503	Hobbs (92%)	4,384	4,147±502	$75,072	$177,200	$888	11.5%
Tract 5.0435025000504	Hobbs (81%)	4,210	4,249±749	$89,160	$279,800	$1,157	11.5%
Tract 635025000600	Hobbs (95%)	6,782	6,030±852	$109,010	$204,600	$1,173	12.6%
Tract 7.0135025000701	North Hobbs (31%)	1,607	1,796±388	$76,738	$267,700	$1,543	7.3%
Tract 7.0235025000702	Hobbs (11%)	4,996	5,076±696	$103,542	$270,400	not published	6.6%
Tract 7.0335025000703	North Hobbs (74%)	3,159	3,790±574	$123,125	$350,800	$1,563	6.4%
Tract 7.0435025000704	North Hobbs (87%)	3,254	3,059±418	$54,236	$222,700	$1,355	16.6%
Tract 835025000800	Eunice (55%)	3,329	3,206±157	$50,750	$133,200	$721	12.1%
Tract 935025000900	Jal (50%)	2,333	2,413±407	not published	$99,000	$1,318	31.3%
Tract 10.0335025001003	Lovington (99%)	4,537	4,109±548	$60,985	$183,500	$1,063	18.2%
Tract 10.0435025001004	Lovington (92%)	4,001	4,357±668	$93,533	$179,200	$949	21.5%
Tract 10.0535025001005	Lovington (93%)	3,723	3,602±630	$50,313	$149,100	$1,092	31.0%
Tract 1135025001100	Tatum (9%)	4,796	4,723±717	$81,985	$212,400	$951	14.7%

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

How does Lea County compare with New Mexico's other counties?

Lea County's rank among New Mexico's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	7th of 33
Growth 2020-2025	8th of 33
Residents per square mile	9th of 33
Median household income	6th of 32
Median home value	13th of 32
Median gross rent	6th of 31
Poverty rate	21st of 33
Bachelor's degree or higher	30th of 33
Median age	31st of 33

Every county in New Mexico

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Lea County 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.