The Town Files

Otero County, New Mexico

68,816 people. The median home is worth $162,700 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $55,876.

Towns in Otero County

Towns in Otero County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Alamogordo30,898$172,900$55,95237.1
Chaparral16,551$109,300$46,01731.6
Holloman AFB3,810—$52,46521.7
Tularosa2,553$150,600$52,37525.8

People and housing

Otero CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$162,700$187,400
Median rent$962$916
Median household income$55,876$55,614
Median age36.439.9
Bachelor's degree or higher22.7%18.7%
Below the poverty line19.3%18.0%

Jobs and pay

17,528 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,017 a year.

Largest industries in Otero CountyHealth care & social assistan…3,054 jobs · $52,344Retail2,339 jobs · $31,603Hotels & restaurants1,463 jobs · $23,924Construction956 jobs · $52,949Administrative & support944 jobs · $50,912Professional & technical serv…572 jobs · $73,356
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Otero County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 825 storm events in Otero County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Otero County by type since 1996Hail97Flood2Drought429Tornado8High Wind86Dust Storm5Heavy Rain11Heavy Snow35Flash Flood71Winter Storm4
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Otero County has been included in 24 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 22, 2025FloodDR-4886: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides
July 10, 2025FloodEM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides
June 20, 2024FireDR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding
June 18, 2024FireFM-5498: Salt Fire
June 17, 2024FireFM-5497: South Fork Fire
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).