Alamogordo
RANK #655 / 996 NAT · #7 / 11 NM · POP 67,850
1YR FORECAST: +0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Otero County, New Mexico, is perhaps best known for White Sands National Park, a striking landscape of gypsum dunes that draws visitors for hiking, sand sledding, and stargazing. Located in southern New Mexico, the county seat, Alamogordo, is approximately 85 miles from El Paso, Texas. The area offers a blend of desert and mountain environments, with the Sacramento Mountains and Lincoln National Forest providing opportunities for hiking, camping, and skiing at Ski Cloudcroft, the southernmost ski resort in the country. Life in Otero County is shaped by its natural amenities and military presence. Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range are significant employers, contributing to a community with a notable number of military retirees. The economy is driven by government employment, tourism, retail trade, and construction. Alamogordo Public Schools serve over 5,000 students across multiple campuses, including those from Holloman Air Force Base. The county has recently explored regional economic development initiatives with neighboring Lincoln County to attract businesses and boost tourism.
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Housing looks undervalued at 3.2x — home prices are low 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 34/100, Otero County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $50,833 suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Otero County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $139,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $882/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Otero County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of 0.0%). Home values shifted -1.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.38% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Otero County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.