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Living in
Hobbs.
About
Life in Hobbs
If you're considering Hobbs, know that this is fundamentally an energy town—oil and gas extraction drive the local economy, along with mining and quarrying operations. That stability translates to solid job availability and a low 3.5% unemployment rate, though wages reflect regional patterns rather than national benchmarks. Housing is affordable with a median home value around $191,300 and median rent at $1,112, which helps offset the modest median household income of about $64,021.
Hobbs at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.7%
Foreign-Born
18.3%
Broadband Internet
86.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hobbs: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hobbs, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (85.1%), and 39.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.8%
of households
Married Couples
43.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.72
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NM
Rent, home values, and income in Hobbs
In Hobbs, home values are 23% below the NM average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$954
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $211,306 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NM average
Unemployment in Hobbs
Unemployment in Hobbs is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NM average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Hobbs Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.8 min avg
How Hobbs residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hobbs, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 115% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hobbs runs 115% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
709.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,033.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hobbs Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lea County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lea County, which includes Hobbs, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $171,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | High Wind | $2.1M |
| 2023 | 20 | Hail | $1.8M |
| 2022 | 9 | Hail | $59,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $95,000 |
| 2020 | 2 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2019 | 17 | Hail | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
235 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lea County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lea County, which includes Hobbs, is typically good — 251 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
251
per year
Moderate Days
106
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Lea County, county-wide
Climate93°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hobbs has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.8"
Annual Snowfall
1.8"
Hot Days/Year
104
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
72
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
37
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 30°F | 0.50" |
| Feb | 61°F | 33°F | 0.53" |
| Mar | 69°F | 40°F | 0.63" |
| Apr | 77°F | 48°F | 0.76" |
| May | 85°F | 57°F | 1.91" |
| Jun | 93°F | 65°F | 1.27" |
| Jul | 94°F | 69°F | 1.74" |
| Aug | 92°F | 68°F | 2.06" |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 2.46" |
| Oct | 76°F | 50°F | 0.87" |
| Nov | 64°F | 38°F | 0.53" |
| Dec | 56°F | 31°F | 0.51" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hobbs
Hobbs has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
15.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hobbs
Hobbs's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Hobbs
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 346 students · in-state tuition $17,582 · 39% graduate · median earnings $47,669 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 91 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hobbs
Hobbs has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Carlsbad Caverns National Park (91 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
National Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hobbs
Hobbs Public Library
509 N. Shipp, Hobbs
Cities Near Hobbs
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hobbs?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hobbs FAQ
Is Hobbs, New Mexico affordable?⌄
Hobbs's median rent is $1,112/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,021/year. Median home value is $191,300.
Is Hobbs, New Mexico safe?⌄
Hobbs's violent crime rate was 709 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3034 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hobbs, New Mexico?⌄
Hobbs has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hobbs, New Mexico?⌄
The cost of living in Hobbs is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,112/month and median household income is $64,021/year. The median home value is $191,300. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hobbs, New Mexico?⌄
The average commute in Hobbs is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from