Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Otero County, NM

Welcome to Otero County.

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Otero County is the third largest county in terms of the geographic area of coverage in New Mexico, representing 5% of the state's total size.

Total GDP for the county increased 26%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $3.4 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Otero County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Otero County comprises Alamogordo, NM micropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Alamogordo.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Chaves County, Do?a Ana County, Eddy County, Lincoln County, Sierra County, Culberson County, El Paso County, and Hudspeth County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
33.73%63.31%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
30.98%67.74%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
39.56%58.83%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
34.12%62.22%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
30.53%59.26%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
36%61.61%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%26%
Government
Enterprises
60%28%
Private Industries40%24%
Agriculture<1%49%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities<1%16%
Construction3%20%
Manufacturing<1%124%
– Durable<1%187%
– Nondurable<1%30%
Trade5%21%
– Wholesale<1%1%
– Retail5%24%
Transportation1%74%
Information1%9%
Finance & Insurance1%27%
Real Estate10%0%
Professional &
Business Services
5%0%
Educational Services1%289%
Healthcare &
Social Services
7%25%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%77%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%35%
Other Services22%26%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers113
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
124
📺 Electronics & Appliance
🛒 Grocery Stores94
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores
⚕️ Health & Personal Care72
⛽ Gasoline Stations237
👕 Clothing Stores72
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry31
🏸 Sporting Goods52
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores186
💐 Florists
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops74
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns
🍽️ Full-service restaurants3611
🍔 Limited-service restaurants328
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers185
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation175
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%124%$261,600 N/A
Top 20%52%$144,000 $133,200
Next highest 20%23%$62,500 $81,900
Middle 20%14%$38,800 $51,400
Second lowest 20%8%$21,100 $28,400
Bottom 20%4%Below $10,000$13,600
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries44%$52,600
Self-Employment7%$31,900
Investment Income17%$86,200
Social Security63%$15,900
Supplemental Security24%Below $10,000
Public Assistance1%Below $10,000
Retirement27%$29,700
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%5%7%8%
$25K
– $49K
3%9%8%8%
$50K
– $99K
3%11%9%8%
$100K
– $199K
<1%7%6%4%
$200K
& more
<1%1%2%<1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White
African-American
Hispanic$29,700
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool
Highschool & GED$15,700
Some College to
Associate’s
$34,100
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$90,800 $11,500
Graduate Degree$58,400 $51,300
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$59,600 $50,400
STEM2
Gray-Collar3
Pink-Collar4$23,200
Sales5Below $10,000$14,300
Blue-Collar6$42,700
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+
Drought+++$
Earthquake+$
Hail++$
Heat Waves
Hurricane+
Ice Storm++$
Landslide++
Lightning+++$
Riverine Flooding++$$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+++$$
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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