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Living in
Lovington.
About
Life in Lovington
Lovington is a community of 11,444 people in New Mexico. The median household income is $68,821, median rent runs about $1,014 per month, and median home values are around $166,100. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Lovington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.0%
Foreign-Born
19.7%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lovington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lovington, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (92.6%), and 47.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
32.7%
of residents
65 and Older
8.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.2%
of households
Married Couples
48.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.28
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 Lovington
In Lovington, home values are 33% below the NM average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$920
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $184,013 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NM average
Unemployment in Lovington
Unemployment in Lea County, which includes Lovington, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NM average.
Unemployment rate
Lovington: Lea County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lea County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lovington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.9 min avg
How Lovington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lovington, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lovington is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
324.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,025.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lovington 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 Lovington, 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.
188 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 Lovington, 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
Lovington has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
14.5"
Annual Snowfall
1.4"
Hot Days/Year
101
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
64
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
44
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 30°F | 0.54" |
| Feb | 63°F | 34°F | 0.54" |
| Mar | 71°F | 40°F | 0.71" |
| Apr | 79°F | 46°F | 0.90" |
| May | 86°F | 56°F | 1.27" |
| Jun | 94°F | 65°F | 1.74" |
| Jul | 92°F | 68°F | 2.51" |
| Aug | 93°F | 67°F | 2.25" |
| Sep | 86°F | 61°F | 2.18" |
| Oct | 79°F | 50°F | 0.97" |
| Nov | 66°F | 39°F | 0.56" |
| Dec | 58°F | 31°F | 0.58" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lovington
Lovington has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.9%
of residents
Nor-lea Hospital District
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.5 mi away · Hobbs
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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lovington
Lovington's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 8.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
8.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lovington (within 15 miles)
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, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lovington
Lovington has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Carlsbad Caverns National Park (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
National Park
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lovington
Lovington Public Library
115 South Main St., Lovington
Cities Near Lovington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lovington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lovington FAQ
Is Lovington, New Mexico affordable?⌄
Lovington's median rent is $1,014/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,821/year. Median home value is $166,100.
Is Lovington, New Mexico safe?⌄
Lovington's violent crime rate was 325 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1026 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lovington, New Mexico?⌄
Lea County, which includes Lovington, 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 Lovington, New Mexico?⌄
The cost of living in Lovington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,014/month and median household income is $68,821/year. The median home value is $166,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lovington, New Mexico?⌄
The average commute in Lovington is 31 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