Otero County Real Estate and Livability Trends

Otero County, New Mexico has seen median home values rise from $101,800 in 2015 to $139,100 in 2022, yet this appreciation lags behind state and national trends. The increasing real estate taxes, peaking at $2,730.77 in 2020, point to a growing tax burden. There's a noteworthy decline in farm tax returns, dropping from 1.51% of tax returns in 2012 to 1.12% in 2021, hinting at shifts in the local... Read more

Economic Outlook

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Otero County, New Mexico has seen a steady increase in average taxable income per tax return, growing from $39,990.08 in 2013 to $48,693.38 in 2021, which might suggest a strengthening local economy. However, average state and local income taxes per tax return have more than doubled from $3,760.56 in 2012 to $7,187.30 in 2021, hinting at a potentially growing tax burden. The general trend in average total tax liability has also risen, reflecting increasing economic activity or income levels.... Read more

Average Taxable Income per Tax Return in Otero County, NM over the last 9 years

Over the past nine years, Otero County, New Mexico has seen a gradual increase in average taxable income per tax return, rising from $39,990.08 in 2013 to $48,693.38 in 2021. Notable annual growth occurred particularly between 2017 and 2018, and again from 2020 to 2021. This trend could indicate a strengthening local economy, which might be of interest to potential investors, real estate agents, and others looking to assess financial opportunities in the area.

Cost of Living in Otero County

Family Size Housing Food Heath Care Child Care Taxes
2 adults
4 children
$1,130 $1,448 $2,438 $1,421 $1,332
1 adult
4 children
$1,130 $1,182 $1,886 $1,421 $1,411
2 adults
3 children
$1,130 $1,183 $2,104 $1,421 $1,085
1 adult
3 children
$1,130 $966 $1,553 $1,421 $1,112
2 adults
2 children
$795 $968 $1,770 $1,247 $857
1 adult
2 children
$795 $723 $1,219 $1,247 $782
2 adults
1 child
$795 $765 $1,436 $682 $764
1 adult
1 child
$795 $494 $885 $682 $613
2 adults
$695 $615 $1,103 $0 $594
1 adult
$568 $335 $551 $0 $486

Safety trends & Data

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Property crime in Otero County, New Mexico has generally seen a decline over the last three years, with larceny-theft dropping from 366 incidents in 2018 to 107 in 2020, and burglary cases reducing from 41 to 29 over the same period. Vandalism reports have remained stable, averaging 58 incidents per year, while motor vehicle theft has fluctuated mildly. These shifts might indicate improving community security or effective law enforcement but highlight areas still in need of attention. Investors... Read more

Property Crime Trends in Otero County, NM Over the Last 3 Years

Property crime in Otero County, New Mexico has generally seen a decline over the last three years, with notable decreases in larceny-theft, which dropped from 366 incidents in 2018 to 107 in 2020. Burglary cases also reduced significantly from 41 in 2018 to 29 in 2020. However, vandalism reports have remained relatively stable, averaging around 58 incidents per year, and motor vehicle theft has fluctuated mildly. These shifts could indicate improving community security or effective law enforcement but also highlight persistent areas that may require targeted interventions. Investors and real estate agents might find the declining trends in major theft categories encouraging, suggesting a gradually safer environment for property assets.

Demographics

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Otero County, New Mexico's population skews slightly male with around 26,261 men compared to 23,177 women. When it comes to education, a significant portion of the adult population holds at least a high school diploma, with many residents having some college experience but no degree. The county also features a youthful demographic, with notable populations in the under-10 and 25 to 34 years age groups. Racially, the area is predominantly White, though there is a blend of other races, including... Read more

Race Distribution in Otero County, New Mexico (2022)

Educational Attainment in Otero County, New Mexico (2022)

Age Distribution in Otero County, New Mexico

Citizen Population in Otero County, New Mexico (2022)

Political Trends & Data

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Otero County in New Mexico likely leaned heavily towards Republicans in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, with the GOP possibly securing around 62% of the vote. Democrats trailed considerably, securing close to 36%, while Libertarian and Green parties barely made a blip with around 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. This probable preference for traditional two-party voting might influence local policies and, subsequently, real estate dynamics, possibly resulting in conservative-driven development... Read more

Percentage of Votes in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election by Party

Otero County in New Mexico likely leaned heavily towards the Republican party in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, with Republicans garnering around 62% of the vote. Democrats trailed significantly, securing close to 36%. The Libertarian and Green parties potentially had minimal impact, barely crossing 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Other parties combined probably didn't make much of a dent either, suggesting a predominantly two-party preference in this county.

61.61% of voters voted for the Republican party in the 2020 Presidential Election

36.00% of voters voted for the Democrat party in the 2020 Presidential Election

1.64% of voters voted for the Livertarian party in the 2020 Presidential Election

0.46% of voters voted for the Green party in the 2020 Presidential Election

0.30% of voters voted for the Other party in the 2020 Presidential Election

School Data

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Otero County, New Mexico has seen significant changes in its student-to-teacher ratio over the past decade, once peaking at nearly 20 students per teacher in 2018—well above the national average of 14. However, 2023 marked a shift, with the ratio dropping to just over 12 students per teacher. This trend suggests more individualized attention for students, which could make the area more appealing to families and investors. Real estate agents and appraisers might view this as a value-add, while... Read more

Student-to-teacher ratio in Otero County, New Mexico over the last 10 years

Over the past decade, Otero County, New Mexico has experienced considerable fluctuations in its student-to-teacher ratio, peaking at almost 20 students per teacher in 2018, significantly above the national average of 14. More recently, the ratio has stabilized, trending below the national average, with 2023 seeing a low of just over 12 students per teacher. This lower ratio could hint at more individualized attention for students, potentially making the area more attractive to families and investors. Real estate agents and appraisers might view this as a value-add, while insurance agents could consider it in risk assessments. For those looking to build or move to Otero County, the shifting education dynamics might indicate evolving community needs and investments in local schools.