RANK #893 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 11 NM · POP 61,105
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
Eddy County, New Mexico, is home to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 119 caves, including the Big Room, one of North America's largest cave chambers. Located in southeastern New Mexico, near the Texas border, the county seat of Carlsbad is approximately 18 miles southwest of the park entrance. The area boasts a desert landscape with canyons, flowering cacti, and diverse wildlife. Outdoor recreation opportunities extend to Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, offering trails and exhibits of Chihuahuan Desert flora and fauna, and the Black River Recreation Area, known for its spring-fed pools and birdwatching. Life in Eddy County is shaped by its natural surroundings and a strong economic base. The public schools in towns like Carlsbad and Artesia are highly rated. The economy is significantly driven by the oil and gas industry, with Eddy County being a major producer in the Permian Basin. Potash mining and nuclear waste isolation at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant also contribute to the local economy. This industrial diversity has led to recent economic growth, attracting a workforce to the area.
Eddy County is one of 11 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.3% runs above the profile's typical -1.1%.
See all 11 Persistent Housing Weakness counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Eddy County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Eddy County scores just 10/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #893 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +6.9% and median household income of $78,426 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, Eddy County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $212,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,245/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Eddy County are hiring — job growth of +6.9% — but the population is close to flat (-0.0% YoY). Home values moved +2.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.99% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Eddy County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.