CEDSSummary Background People & Communities
Housing Stock and Occupancy
Read the region’s housing stock, occupancy, tenure, structure types, and owner-occupied values as five distinct questions.
- Housing Supply
- Occupancy & Tenure
- Workforce Stability
County Data Explorer
The Regional Housing Picture
One Region
Choose a measure, then select a county on the map or in the comparison below.
Compare the Five Counties
Sources and Map Notes
County boundaries are from the U.S. Census Bureau, January 1, 2024. This is a county comparison, not a map of neighborhoods, parcels, tribal jurisdiction, or hazard zones. County totals include residents of the Mescalero Apache Tribe within those boundaries.
U.S. Census Bureau: About County Boundaries ↗How Much Housing Exists?
The first chart counts all housing units in each county, whether a home is occupied or vacant. The five counties together have an estimated 132,622 units in the 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS). Each bar is a count, not a percentage; use Highest First or Lowest First to reorder the counties without changing their values.
Otero has the largest reported stock at 32,645 units, followed by Lea at 28,403. Lincoln has 17,871. A larger stock does not tell us how many units are available for a new resident, what they cost, or whether they are in usable condition. Those questions require the next comparisons and a current local inventory.
Compare the Evidence
The Scale of the Housing Stock
Choose a measure and comparison order to explore the values. Bars start at zero; values remain visible beside every bar.
Housing Units · A consistent zero-based scale makes the differences visible.
U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, table B25002. Counts include occupied and vacant housing units. Survey estimates have sampling uncertainty.
View All Values in a Table
| Area / Organization | Housing Units |
|---|---|
| Otero | 32,645 |
| Lea | 28,403 |
| Chaves | 26,864 |
| Eddy | 26,839 |
| Lincoln | 17,871 |
Which Homes Are Occupied or Vacant?
This chart changes from counts to percentages of all housing units in a county. Choose Occupied or Vacant to see the two complementary shares. For example, Lincoln's estimated 56.0% occupied share corresponds to a 44.0% vacant share. The bars start at zero and use the same 0–100% scale.
Chaves has the highest reported occupied share at 88.3%; Lincoln has the lowest at 56.0%. The difference is a reason to investigate local housing use, not proof that Lincoln has a large supply of market-ready homes. “Vacant” can include seasonal units and homes unavailable for rent or sale. Small county differences may also reflect survey uncertainty.
Lincoln County
Of all estimated housing units, 56.0% are occupied and 44.0% are vacant. The vacant share is not an available-home inventory.
Chaves County
Of all estimated housing units, 88.3% are occupied and 11.7% are vacant. Compare local market conditions before interpreting the difference.
Compare the Evidence
Occupied and Vacant Housing
Choose a measure and comparison order to explore the values. Bars start at zero; values remain visible beside every bar.
Occupied · A consistent zero-based scale makes the differences visible.
U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, table B25002. Percent of all housing units. Survey estimates have sampling uncertainty; vacant units may be seasonal or unavailable for sale or rent.
View All Values in a Table
| Area / Organization | Occupied | Vacant |
|---|---|---|
| Chaves | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| Eddy | 88% | 12% |
| Lea | 86.9% | 13.1% |
| Otero | 75% | 25% |
| Lincoln | 56% | 44% |
Who Owns or Rents Occupied Homes?
The third chart looks only at occupied housing units. Choose Owner-Occupied or Renter-Occupied to compare each county's tenure mix. A vacant unit is excluded here, so this chart answers a different question from the occupancy chart above. The two shares within a county add to about 100%, subject to rounding.
Lincoln has the highest reported owner-occupied share at 76.8% of occupied units, while Otero has the highest renter-occupied share at 33.0%. These are shares of existing occupied homes—not the number of rentals currently offered, the cost of owning or renting, or whether a household can find a suitable unit. Pair this view with prices, rents, income, and local listings.
Compare the Evidence
Ownership and Rental Housing
Choose a measure and comparison order to explore the values. Bars start at zero; values remain visible beside every bar.
Owner-Occupied · A consistent zero-based scale makes the differences visible.
U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, table B25003. Percent of occupied housing units only; vacant units are excluded. Survey estimates have sampling uncertainty.
View All Values in a Table
| Area / Organization | Owner-Occupied | Renter-Occupied |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 76.8% | 23.2% |
| Eddy | 73.3% | 26.7% |
| Chaves | 71.3% | 28.7% |
| Lea | 71.2% | 28.8% |
| Otero | 67% | 33% |
What Kinds of Homes Make Up the Stock?
The structure chart compares the reported share of single-unit, multi-unit, mobile-home, and boat/RV/van categories by county. Select one form at a time; every bar is a percentage on the same 0–100% scale. This comparison has no confirmed reference year, so it provides historical context rather than a current inventory.
Single-unit homes account for 63–74% of the reported mix across the five counties. Mobile homes have a larger reported share in Otero (28%) and Lincoln (26%), while multi-unit structures range from 7% in Lincoln to 14% in Lea. The chart describes form, not quality, price, accessibility, or whether a unit has adequate utilities. A missing category value means it was not reported, not that the share is zero.
Compare the Evidence
The Mix of Housing Structures
Choose a measure and comparison order to explore the values. Bars start at zero; values remain visible beside every bar.
Single Unit · A consistent zero-based scale makes the differences visible.
Reference year not specified. Reported shares are historical context, not current estimates. Rounded categories may not total 100%; a missing value is not assumed to be zero.
View All Values in a Table
| Area / Organization | Single Unit | Multi-Unit | Mobile Home | Boat, Rv, or Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy | 74% | 10% | 15% | Not Reported |
| Chaves | 74% | 12% | 13% | 1% |
| Lea | 67% | 14% | 17% | 1% |
| Lincoln | 67% | 7% | 26% | Not Reported |
| Otero | 63% | 9% | 28% | Not Reported |
How Are Owner-Occupied Home Values Distributed?
The final chart uses 2020–2024 ACS estimates for owner-occupied homes only. Choose a value band to see what share of each county's owner-occupied units falls in that range. The bands were grouped from ACS table B25075. The bars show percentages within each county, not home counts or sale prices.
For example, 28.7% of Otero's owner-occupied homes are reported under $100,000, compared with 16.7% in Eddy. Looking below $200,000 across the first two bands gives 61.9% in Chaves and 60.5% in Otero, compared with 43.1% in Lincoln. These are owner-estimated values, not asking prices or rents. To assess affordability, compare current prices and rents with local incomes, financing costs, housing condition, and available inventory.
Compare the Evidence
Home Values and Housing Choice
Choose a measure and comparison order to explore the values. Bars start at zero; values remain visible beside every bar.
Under $100K · A consistent zero-based scale makes the differences visible.
U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, table B25075. Shares of owner-occupied housing units. Values are owner estimates, not sale prices; survey estimates have sampling uncertainty. View Source Definitions ↗
View All Values in a Table
| Area / Organization | Under $100k | $100k–$199k | $200k–$299k | $300k–$399k | $400k–$499k | $500k–$999k | $1m or More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otero | 28.7% | 31.8% | 19.1% | 11.8% | 4.3% | 4% | 0.2% |
| Chaves | 28.4% | 33.5% | 21.3% | 10.5% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| Lea | 21.3% | 33.7% | 22.6% | 12.1% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 1.1% |
| Lincoln | 20.4% | 22.7% | 18.7% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 12.9% | 4.5% |
| Eddy | 16.7% | 28.8% | 27.4% | 12.5% | 6.3% | 6.8% | 1.3% |
Key Insights
The charts show where to investigate housing needs. A project still needs current, place-specific evidence about availability, condition, cost, and residents' circumstances.
Investigate Vacancy Before Acting
Lincoln's 44.0% estimated vacant share may include seasonal or otherwise unavailable homes. Identify which units could actually serve residents before choosing rehabilitation, conversion, or new construction.
Match Housing Choice to Local Demand
Otero has the highest renter share of occupied homes at 33.0%. Compare household needs with current rental supply, price, location, and accessibility rather than relying on tenure alone.
Plan for Different Housing Forms
Mobile-home and multi-unit shares vary across counties. Local infrastructure, land, financing, and housing condition should shape where repair, replacement, or new options make sense.
Separate Value From Affordability
Owner-estimated value bands describe one part of the market. Pair them with wages, rents, financing costs, and current listings before judging whether local workers can secure a home.