Otero County, Colorado
Among the top 19% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 81% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 72% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 39% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 70% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade F, better than 9% of US counties
- top 1% for sunny days
- top 5% for property tax rate
- bottom 2% for comfortable days
Otero County is a county in Colorado with about 19,000 residents. It grades B+ for affordability and F for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include sunny days, property tax rate, and summer humidity. It rates lower on property crime and comfortable days.
Official websiteoterogov.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, dry summers · Cold winters · Dry · Snowy
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86%67%clearovercast
Precipitation 1.8 in0.4 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$48k16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 74% of US counties
Home Value$133k34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$802better than 54% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 78% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.37%better than 95% of US counties
Income Tax4.40%better than 67% of US counties
Sales Tax7.81%better than 40% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden8.01%better than 77% of US counties
Unemployment5.9%better than 29% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)31°F42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation13.1 in4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall28.7 inbetter than 30% of US counties
Sunny Days319 daysbetter than 99% of US counties
Summer Humidity48°Fbetter than 92% of US counties
Comfortable Days25 daysbetter than 2% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.7better than 48% of US counties
School Quality78.5better than 82% of US counties
Violent Crime977/100kbetter than 37% of US counties
Property Crime2468/100kbetter than 7% of US counties
Community
Population18,58039th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.541st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4269th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0368th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2333rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)51.1%16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.2%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)42.9%93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.8%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.9%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time22 minbetter than 68% of US counties
Walkability8.3/20better than 88% of US counties
Airport Distance141 mibetter than 28% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access79.3%better than 29% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.00better than 12% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 22% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Otero County an affordable place to live?
- Otero County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 74% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Otero County?
- The median home value in Otero County is $133k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Otero County?
- Median household income in Otero County is $48k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Otero County?
- Median gross rent in Otero County is $802 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Otero County safe?
- Otero County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 977/100k (better than 37%). Property crime is 2468/100k.
- What is the weather like in Otero County?
- Otero County averages 78°F in July and 31°F in January, with 13.1 in of annual precipitation and about 319 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Otero County?
- Public-school quality in Otero County is above average, scoring better than 82% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Otero County?
- The average one-way commute in Otero County is 22 min.
Other counties in Colorado
Explore Colorado
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)