CEDSSummary Background Regional Economic Relationships
Regional Economic Benchmarks
Verified regional baselines and county household incomes show both economic scale and local differences.
Compare Like with Like
- Measure
- Geography
- Time Period
- Source
- Covered Jobs
- Household Income
- Growth Capacity
Introduction
A Common Baseline for Five Counties
The five-county economy can be measured consistently, while county income figures show meaningful differences in household opportunity. The figures below identify their source and period so readers can interpret them in context.
Regional Benchmarks, Local Differences
Employment and business activity show the scale of Southeastern New Mexico’s economy. County household incomes show that residents do not experience that economy in the same way. These historical baselines give regional planning a common starting point.
Income Varies Across the Region
The median divides each county’s households in half: half are above it and half are below it. Eddy’s median is the highest of the five, while Chaves and Lincoln are lower. The chart compares county medians on the same dollar scale; it is not a distribution of individual incomes.
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| Chaves | $52,938 |
| Eddy | $78,426 |
| Lea | $68,015 |
| Lincoln | $53,303 |
| Otero | $55,876 |
County medians are in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. They cannot be averaged to create a regional median. ACS survey estimates have margins of error.
Read Outcomes Beside Capacity
Employment growth matters, but housing availability, broadband quality, workforce access, and infrastructure determine whether that growth benefits more households and lasts through market changes. The region’s 132,622 housing units and 86.4% broadband subscription rate provide context; neither measure alone establishes affordability or service quality.
Sources: BLS QCEW (2024 covered jobs and establishments); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2020–2024 household income, housing, and broadband); Census Population Estimates (July 2024). Covered jobs are workplace based and exclude self-employment.