Otero County, NM at a glance
Median household income
$55,876$4,656 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Otero 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 Otero County, NM? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Otero 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 | $671 | $8,052 | $26,840 | 14.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $792 | $9,504 | $31,680 | 17% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $973 | $11,676 | $38,920 | 20.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,353 | $16,236 | $54,120 | 29.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,632 | $19,584 | $65,280 | 35% |
What a typical income covers in Otero County, NM
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $55,876 a year ($4,656 a month before tax).
What $55,876 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 Otero County, NM: common questions
What is the median household income in Otero County, NM?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Otero County, NM is $55,876 per year (approximately $4,656 per month).
What is the average rent in Otero County, NM?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $671 for a studio, $792 for one bedroom, $973 for two, $1,353 for three and $1,632 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 Otero 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 Otero County, NM?
To keep a $973 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $38,920 a year, or $3,243 a month. That is 70% of what the typical household in Otero County, NM earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Otero County, NM?
On the local median income of $55,876 ($4,656 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,328 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,397 for everything else and $931 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $973 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Otero 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.