The Town Files

Lea County, New Mexico

73,733 people. The median home is worth $184,000 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $68,015.

Towns in Lea County

Towns in Lea County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Hobbs40,508$191,300$64,02132.5
Lovington11,668$166,100$68,82132.0
North Hobbs6,529$264,400$82,55431.7
Eunice3,056$139,800$49,08729.5

People and housing

Lea CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$184,000$187,400
Median rent$1,101$916
Median household income$68,015$55,614
Median age32.539.9
Bachelor's degree or higher15.5%18.7%
Below the poverty line18.7%18.0%

Jobs and pay

33,770 jobs in 2024, average pay $69,342 a year.

Largest industries in Lea CountyMining, oil & gas8,171 jobs · $101,206Retail3,451 jobs · $36,639Hotels & restaurants3,262 jobs · $25,301Construction2,994 jobs · $75,775Health care & social assistan…2,641 jobs · $50,915Transportation & warehousing2,075 jobs · $89,080
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lea County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 924 storm events in Lea County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Lea County by type since 1996Hail383Flood5Drought14Tornado15High Wind115Ice Storm10Heavy Snow25Flash Flood93Funnel Cloud8Winter Storm6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lea County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3460: Covid-19
October 29, 2014Severe StormDR-4199: Severe Storms And Flooding
January 2, 2006FireFM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
May 10, 2000FireEM-3154: Severe Fire Threats
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).