Population
74,749
2025
+0.2% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Lea County, NM: population growth, jobs and income
Lea County gained 303 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).
Lea County had an estimated 74,749 residents in 2025, up 0.2% (115 more people) since 2020. That is slower than New Mexico as a whole (+0.3%), and the 10th fastest growth of 32 counties in New Mexico.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Lea County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Lea County, ranked against New Mexico and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,101/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes13.1%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1362025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−386
2025
−5.2 per 1,000 residents
−4,702 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
2025
−0.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
143
2025
−32.2% since 2021
1.9 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$68,015
2020–24
+9.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
24,911
2023
−0.2% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 386 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 24,911 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.2% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.5% in 2025, 0.3 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 143 new homes in 2025, or 1.9 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $68,015 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +9.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,815th.
Part of the Hobbs, NM micro area.
Get Lea County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Lea County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Lea County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74,749 | +303 |
| 2024 | 74,446 | +1,232 |
| 2023 | 73,214 | +954 |
| 2022 | 72,260 | −808 |
| 2021 | 73,068 | −1,566 |
| 2020 | 74,634 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Lea County
Lea County grew by 115 people since 2020 even though 4,702 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 1,725, and net international migration added 3,128.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +233 | +1,725 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +445 | +3,128 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −386 | −4,702 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +11 | −36 | |
| Total change | +303 | +115 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In New Mexico | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 10th of 32 | 1,815th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 23rd of 32 | 2,577th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 19th of 32 | 1,902nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 6th of 31 | 1,326th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 4th of 32 | 949th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 9th of 18 | 1,579th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Lea County, NM as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Chaves County and Eddy County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Lea County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Lea County's population change (+0.2%) was ahead of 5 of its 8 neighbouring counties with a comparable figure and behind 3.
5 of its 9 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Lea County's $68,015 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM This county | 74,749 | +0.2% | −5.2 | 1.9 | $68,015 |
| Yoakum County, TX | 7,438 | −3.1% | −21.8 | 0.1 | $84,925 |
| Gaines County, TX | 23,956 | +10.4% | 4.7 | 0.8 | $74,132 |
| Eddy County, NM | 62,509 | +0.3% | 5.3 | 3.9 | $78,426 |
| Winkler County, TX | 7,540 | −2.8% | −11.1 | 0.4 | $86,900 |
| Andrews County, TX | 18,914 | +1.6% | −0.9 | 4.9 | $72,242 |
| Loving County, TX | 52 | – | – | – | $51,250 |
| Chaves County, NM | 63,364 | −2.7% | −5.1 | 1.2 | $52,938 |
| Cochran County, TX | 2,546 | −0.5% | −11.4 | 0.0 | $45,313 |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 18,615 | −2.8% | −10.7 | 0.0 | $52,685 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Lea County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 0.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 115 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). New Mexico as a whole changed +0.3% over the same years. That ranks 10th of 32 counties in New Mexico for population growth.
How many people moved to Lea County?
On net, none in 2025: about 386 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Lea County?
It averaged 3.5% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Lea County?
About 74,749 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Lea County?
Private employers there had 24,911 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.2% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in New Mexico
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other New Mexico county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Lea County data alerts
Email me when Lea County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.