Lea County, NM at a glance
Median household income
$68,015$5,668 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Lea County, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Lea County, NM? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lea County, NM, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,062 | $12,744 | $42,480 | 18.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,068 | $12,816 | $42,720 | 18.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,324 | $15,888 | $52,960 | 23.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,641 | $19,692 | $65,640 | 29% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,829 | $21,948 | $73,160 | 32.3% |
What a typical income covers in Lea County, NM
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $68,015 a year ($5,668 a month before tax).
What $68,015 leaves after New Mexico taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Mexico tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Mexico
Living in Lea County, NM: common questions
What is the median household income in Lea County, NM?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Lea County, NM is $68,015 per year (approximately $5,668 per month).
What is the average rent in Lea County, NM?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,062 for a studio, $1,068 for one bedroom, $1,324 for two, $1,641 for three and $1,829 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Lea County, NM expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for New Mexico is 92.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Lea County, NM?
To keep a $1,324 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $52,960 a year, or $4,413 a month. That is 78% of what the typical household in Lea County, NM earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Lea County, NM?
On the local median income of $68,015 ($5,668 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,834 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,700 for everything else and $1,134 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,324 takes 47% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Lea County, NM?
Homes in New Mexico paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.