Cost of Living in Otero County, New Mexico
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Otero County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Otero County ranks #1,413 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 45%)
Sourced county brief
Otero County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $962 Monthly
The median gross rent in Otero County is $962 per month, which is $57 above the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $905. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county is 28.7%, which is 0.3 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 28.4%. For owner-occupied households, the median home value is $162,700, which is below the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $192,727. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied housing units are $668, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $711. The median renter-household income was estimated at $41,500. These housing data points are from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Metadata includes dataVersion acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1, last reviewed on 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Otero County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.7% of renter household income in Otero County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $962 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $668. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New Mexico unweighted mean of county median rents is $905 per month. Otero County's $962 median is 6.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Otero County
Rent Burden
20.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,304
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Otero County
Median home value is $162,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,299 vs. your max of $1,304.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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