Groundwork

County profile · Colorado

Otero County, CO market data

Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Otero County, each scored against other counties.

Population, 2025
17,683
−5.2% since 2020
Households
7,584
Median household income
$54,037
+41.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$168,900
Jobs located here
5,492
Highest market score
49
Real estate, #1,121 of 2,229 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Otero County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Otero County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

An estimated 17,683 people live in Otero County, in 7,584 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Otero County declined 5.2%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Otero County is $54,037 a year, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 41.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

Set against the U.S., households in Otero County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (71).

The highest Groundwork market scores in Otero County are for real estate businesses (49), real estate agents and brokers (48) and auto repair and car care businesses (38). Otero County ranks #1,121 of 2,229 scored counties for real estate businesses.

For its number of households, Otero County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (52% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Otero County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Otero County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Otero County, CO, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Real estate49#1,121 of 2,2291418.5Index only189Under 3
Real estate agents and brokers48#1,140 of 2,1761215.8Index only175Under 3
Auto repair and car care38#1,743 of 2,4013748.8$227K8411
Auto repair shops35#1,834 of 2,3782127.7$400K9010
Gas stations34#1,817 of 2,3581317.1$1.7M7211
Pizza33#1,691 of 2,09067.9$3.9M7713
Insurance agencies32#1,751 of 2,2721519.8$1.1M857
Doctors, dentists and clinics30#2,078 of 2,3944863.3$168K11020
Car washes and detailing29#1,232 of 1,45156.6$1.7M67Under 3
Spas and skin care29#1,543 of 1,76967.9$1M117Under 3
Fast food and sandwich shops29#1,867 of 2,2221013.2$2.4M7713
Dentists and orthodontists27#1,720 of 1,8861114.5$732K744
Pet businesses23#2,048 of 2,200911.9$633K727
HVAC and plumbing22#1,623 of 1,70756.6$3.4M727
Convenience stores22#1,985 of 2,261810.5$5M64Under 3
Restaurants and cafes22#2,248 of 2,4057598.9$315K8531
Clothing and shoe stores19#1,947 of 2,087911.9$1.2M97Under 3
Home repair trades19#2,011 of 2,057911.9$1.9M7915
Gyms17#1,696 of 1,79279.2$760K58Under 3
Gyms, studios and classes17#2,000 of 2,0881215.8$444K67Under 3
Clothing, shoes and laundry16#2,144 of 2,2101317.1$849K96Under 3
Salons, barbers and spas15#2,343 of 2,3853444.8$182K85Under 3
Sit-down restaurants14#2,378 of 2,4054863.3$492K7415
Grocery and convenience stores13#2,319 of 2,4022127.7$1.9M57Under 3
Pet grooming and boarding12#1,435 of 1,46156.6$1.1M45Under 3
Grocery stores10#2,016 of 2,070810.5$5M54Under 3
Hair salons10#2,307 of 2,3392330.3$268K62Under 3
Optometrists and eye care7#1,286 of 1,302810.5$1M323
Chiropractors5#1,488 of 1,4901114.5$732K317
Child care and preschoolsNot scoredNot scored45.3$801K804
Coffee shops and cafesNot scoredNot scored45.3$5.9M1593
Lawn, cleaning and pest controlNot scoredNot scored45.3$2M1215
Martial arts and dance studiosNot scoredNot scored45.3$1.3M66Under 3
Tire shopsNot scoredNot scored45.3$2.1M84Under 3
VeterinariansNot scoredNot scored45.3$1.4M527
Bakeries and dessert shopsNot scoredNot scored34.0$7.9M1903
Collision repair and body shopsNot scoredNot scored34.0$2.8M913
ElectriciansNot scoredNot scored34.0$5.7M488
Funeral homesNot scoredNot scored34.0$442K65Under 3
BarbershopsNot scoredNot scored22.6$3.1MToo fewUnder 3
Landscaping and lawn careNot scoredNot scored22.6$4.1MToo few5
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored22.6$5.5MToo fewUnder 3
Nail salonsNot scoredNot scored22.6$3.1MToo fewUnder 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored22.6$4.1MToo fewUnder 3
Primary care and pediatricsNot scoredNot scored22.6$4MToo few6
Property managementNot scoredNot scored22.6Index onlyToo fewUnder 3
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored11.3$11MToo fewUnder 3
Roofing and guttersNot scoredNot scored11.3$17.2MToo fewUnder 3
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studiosNot scoredNot scored11.3$5.3MToo fewUnder 3
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Mortgage brokers and lendersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Physical therapyNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Otero County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Otero County, CO by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$8.4M$1,106116
Gasoline and other fuels$22.4M$2,948114
Food away from home$23.6M$3,11577
Groceries$40.2M$5,30784
Personal care products and services$6.2M$81481
Child care and other personal services$3.2M$42373
Memberships, classes and admissions$5.3M$70271
Medical and dental services$8.1M$1,06282
Pets$5.7M$75183
Clothing, shoes and related services$11M$1,45571
Vehicle insurance$16M$2,112108
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$17.2M$2,26375
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$8.2M$1,07576
Rent and homeowner costs$114.8M$15,13591

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Otero County

Population, 2025 estimate
17,683−5.2% since 2020
Households
7,584
Median age
41.1
Homes lived in by their owners
69%
Vehicles per household
2.1
Land area
1,262 sq. mi.
People per square mile
15
Median household income
$54,037+41.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$68,476
Median home value
$168,900
Jobs located here
5,492
Daytime population
16,328Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Otero County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Otero County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Questions

How fast is Otero County, CO growing?

Population estimates put Otero County at 17,683 people in 2025, down 5.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,584 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 41.6%, before inflation.

How much do households in Otero County, CO spend?

Households in Otero County spend about $114.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $40.2M on groceries and $23.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Otero County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (71).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Otero County, CO?

Of the business types scored in Otero County, real estate businesses (49), real estate agents and brokers (48) and auto repair and car care businesses (38) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For real estate businesses, that ranks #1,121 of 2,229 scored counties.

How does Otero County, CO compare with the U.S.?

Median household income in Otero County is $54,037, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 5.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $168,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (52% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 29 of the 56 business types have a score in Otero County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Otero County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

All markets in Colorado · Every U.S. market · How we measure

Screening a site or an acquisition in Otero County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Otero County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.