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Otero County, Colorado

Otero County, Colorado · ZIP 81030, 81039, 81050

  • Census data · ACS 2019-2023
  • 17,991 (2024 estimate)Population
  • 7,643Households
  • $54,897Median household income
  • $160,700Median home value
  • 8Towns with a page
  • 7ZIP codes

Otero County in numbersOfficial sources, refreshed yearly

Population, 2000 to 2020−8.0%
18k19k20k21k2000: 20,31120002010: 18,83120102020: 18,690202020,31118,690
Population of Otero County at each census
CensusPopulation
200020,311
201018,831
202018,690

As counted at each census, within the boundaries the area had then; the current estimate is in the glance card.

Sources: Census 2000 Summary File 1: total population, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2010 Summary File 1: total population, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2020 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171): total population, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.

Household income in Otero County
Under $50k46.9%
$50k to $100k29.2%
$100k to $150k15.9%
$150k to $200k5.2%
$200k and over2.8%

Median household income $54,897 · Share of households by income, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table S1901.

Source: American Community Survey 5-year subject table S1901 (household income) 2019–2023, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.

Housing tenure in Otero County
Owner occupied
5,264 units
Renter occupied
2,379 units
Vacancy rate
12.4%

Occupied housing units by tenure and the share of all units vacant, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table DP04.

Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.

Jobs by sector in Otero County2023
Health care and social assistance1,241
Retail trade730
Accommodation and food services654
Manufacturing481
Wholesale trade294
Construction156
Professional, scientific, and technical services155
Finance and insurance152

4,508 employees in 403 establishments with payroll in 2023, all sectors; employers themselves are not named in the source. County Business Patterns counts are published with noise.

Source: County Business Patterns 2023: employment by sector, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.

Otero County compared with its state
Otero County compared with its state, American Community Survey 2019-2023
MeasureOtero CountyColorado
Population18,4605,810,774
Median household income$54,897$92,470
Median age40.937.5
Median home value$160,700$502,200
Bachelor’s degree or higher18.8%44.7%
Foreign-born residents4.0%9.6%
Owner-occupied homes68.9%66.3%
Mean commute to work21.3 minutes25.5 minutes

Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, county level, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.

Townships, towns and villages in Otero County8 with a page · sort by any column

Type
La JuntaCity6,9863.20 sq mi
Rocky FordCity3,7811.68 sq mi
FowlerTown1,2030.56 sq mi
SwinkTown5870.28 sq mi
North La JuntaCensus designated place5121.36 sq mi
ManzanolaTown3260.28 sq mi
CherawTown2310.18 sq mi
La Junta GardensCensus designated place1220.53 sq mi

Populations: Census Population Estimates, Vintage 2024: subcounty totals, state 08 (2024). Land areas: Census Gazetteer 2025: counties. A dash means the figure is not in the cited file.

County officialsFrom public records

No county official is published yet. Names appear once a researcher drafts them from the county’s own site and a second person approves; office contacts only, never personal details.

Across Otero County

Jobs across Otero County

No job is posted in Otero County’s towns yet. Employers post from their business dashboard; public job banks are added once their terms are recorded.

Events in the next 31 days

No upcoming event is listed in Otero County's towns yet. Members and businesses add events from any town page.

Latest postsRolled up from the towns

Nothing has been posted in Otero County’s towns yet. Join a town to start its feed.

Neighboring counties

Neighboring counties

Sources: Census county adjacency file 2024, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census Population Estimates, Vintage 2024: subcounty totals, state 08, retrieved November 14, 2026.