Checked
Lea County, NM
8 cities and towns and 11 ZIP codes in Lea County, New Mexico.
Population
73,733
Land area
4,392sq mi
People per sq mi
17
ZIP codes
11
Cities and towns in Lea County
Lea County at a glance
- It is the 7th most populous of 33 counties in New Mexico.
- Households here earn a median of $68,015 a year, 6% more than the New Mexico figure of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $184,000 (26% below New Mexico) and median rent is $1,101 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Hobbs (40,252), Lovington (11,498) and North Hobbs (6,034).
Local data for Lea County, NM
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools42
- Colleges2
- Libraries5
- Banks19
- Post Offices6
- Parks21
- Grocery Stores18
- Restaurants218
- Affordable Housing7
- Home Health Agencies4
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers2
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment3
- Private Schools4
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities13
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Lea County, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$68,015
Poverty rate
18.7%
Median home value
$184,000
Prices +6.2% in a year
Median rent
$1,101/mo
Homeownership
71.2%
Bachelor's or higher
15.5%
Median age
32.5
Average commute
24.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (41,160), German Americans (4,398), Irish Americans (3,754).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.3%
Aug 2026, +0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$71,747
34,047 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,387
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$305M
FY 2026, $4,097 per person
PPP loans
$237M
2,041 loans, 20,485 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$142K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Lea County, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.6%
- Carpooled18.0%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home3.7%
Average one-way commute: 24.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lea County, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
924
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
715
2.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 30°F
14.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lea County, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.0%
U.S. 33.3% +3.7 pts
Diabetes
12.0%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
14.8%
U.S. 12.8% +2.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
21.6%
U.S. 11.1% +10.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Lea County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Lea County, NM?
- Hobbs is the largest city or town in Lea County, with about 40,252 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Lea County?
- Lea County includes 11 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 88114, 88231, 88240, 88242, 88244.
- What is the population of Lea County, NM?
- About 73,733 people live in Lea County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Lea County?
- Lea County borders Chaves County, Eddy County, Gaines County, TX, Roosevelt County, Andrews County, TX, Yoakum County, TX, Winkler County, TX, Cochran County, TX, Loving County, TX.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023