Otero County, New Mexico

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.9 | 68,835 people · 15th most distressed in New Mexico
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Otero County, NM registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.9 — 1148th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within New Mexico, it ranks 15th of 33 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Otero County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 71.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 71.7
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Consumer Credit Distress 64.0
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 65
Housing Cost Burden 49.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 84
Economic Vitality 47.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Legal Distress 17.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 17

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Otero County
Otero County, NM 56.9 Elevated —
El Paso County, TX 78.0 Serious +21.1
Chaves County, NM 67.9 Serious +11.0
Doña Ana County, NM 67.1 Serious +10.2
Hudspeth County, TX 62.4 Elevated +5.5
Culberson County, TX 52.9 Elevated -4.0
Sierra County, NM 51.3 Elevated -5.7
Lincoln County, NM 50.0 Normal -6.9
Eddy County, NM 48.5 Normal -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Otero County
Harrisonburg city, VA 56.8 Elevated -0.1
Shawnee County, KS 57.1 Elevated +0.2
Robertson County, TN 57.1 Elevated +0.2
Canadian County, OK 56.7 Elevated -0.2
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Otero County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Otero County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of New Mexico Lawyer Referral Program offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of New Mexico Lawyer Referral Program 505-797-6000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Otero County residents at no cost.

New Mexico Legal Aid 1-866-416-1922
Law Access New Mexico 1-800-340-9771
DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc. (928) 871-4151

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Otero County, New Mexico?

    Otero County has a County Distress Index score of 56.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,148th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in New Mexico out of 33 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Otero County?

    The primary driver of distress in Otero County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 71.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Otero County compare to neighboring counties?

    Otero County (56.9) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: El Paso County, TX (78.0); Chaves County, NM (67.9); Doña Ana County, NM (67.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Otero County's score of 56.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Otero County's CDI score?

    Otero County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Otero County?

    Otero County, New Mexico has a population of approximately 68,835 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.