The Town FilesLovington, New Mexico
City in Lea County · population 11,668 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,100
- Household income
- $68,821
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 32.0
Lovington is a city of 11,668 people in Lea County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $166,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more walkable than 94% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 90% of New Mexico towns.
How Lovington ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lovington is worth $166,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,821, which is more affordable than 77% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $1,014 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lovington | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $1,014 | $916 |
| Median household income | $68,821 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Lovington
| People | Lovington | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 32.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 82.9% |
Weather in Lovington
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 14.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lovington since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 17, 1954 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 6, 2005.
Severe weather in Lea County since 1996
Lea County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4199: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 2, 2006 | Fire | FM-2600: Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lea County
Lea County had 33,770 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,342 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Lovington itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Lovington
10 public schools with 3,405 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOVINGTON HIGH | 10-12 | 763 | 18.2 |
| TAYLOR MIDDLE | 7-8 | 516 | 17.8 |
| YARBRO ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 457 | 18.3 |
| LLANO ELEMENTARY | PK-K | 382 | 16.6 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | 3-3 | 264 | 18.9 |
| LOVINGTON FRESHMAN ACADEMY | 9-9 | 255 | 15.9 |
| LEA ELEMENTARY | 1-1 | 227 | 16.2 |
| BEN ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY | 2-2 | 219 | 16.8 |
| LOVINGTON 6TH GRADE ACADEMY | 6-6 | 208 | 12.2 |
| NEW HOPE ALTERNATIVE HIGH | 9-12 | 114 | 16.3 |
Towns near Lovington
- North Hobbs, NM17.7 mi · 6,529 people · home $264,400
- Hobbs, NM18.5 mi · 40,508 people · home $191,300
Lovington questions
Is Lovington, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lovington scores better for retirees than 3% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 12%. 8.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Lovington?
The median owner-occupied home in Lovington is valued at $166,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,821, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,014 a month.
What is the weather like in Lovington?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Lovington get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lovington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 17, 1954. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)