The Town FilesOtero County, Colorado
18,321 people. The median home is worth $168,900 (typical Colorado town: $471,100) and the median household earns $54,037.
Towns in Otero County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Junta | 7,322 | $194,800 | $52,315 | 38.2 |
| Rocky Ford | 3,876 | $143,900 | $40,655 | 42.3 |
People and housing
| Otero County | Typical Colorado town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,900 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $839 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $54,037 | $86,246 |
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 8.8% |
Jobs and pay
6,054 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,375 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 453 storm events in Otero County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Otero County has been included in 9 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| January 7, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3271: Snow |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
| May 17, 1999 | Severe Storm | DR-1276: Co-Flooding 4/30/99 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).