Lea County

Lea County, New Mexico — key demographics (latest Census Bureau data)

Population size

• 74,455 (2020 Census)
• Growth since 2010: +15.0% (from 64,727)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~31–32 years
• Under 18: ~31–33%
• 65 and over: ~10–12%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~51–52%
• Female: ~48–49%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic is of any race)

• Hispanic or Latino: ~58–62%
• Non‑Hispanic White: ~30–33%
• Non‑Hispanic Black: ~3–5%
• Non‑Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Non‑Hispanic Asian: ~1%
• Non‑Hispanic Two or more races/Other: ~2–3%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~25–26k
• Average household size: ~3.0–3.2
• Family households: ~74–77% of all households
• Married‑couple households: ~54–57% of all households
• Households with children under 18: ~42–46%
• Average family size: ~3.5–3.7
• Owner‑occupied housing share: ~63–67%

Insights

• Young, family‑oriented, majority‑Hispanic community with slightly more males than females and larger‑than‑average households.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year estimates).

Email usage in Lea County, NM (estimates grounded in recent ACS and national usage rates)

• Population and density: ~76,000 residents across ~4,393 sq mi ≈ 17 people per sq mi (very low density).
• Digital access: ~92–94% of households have a computer; ~82–85% maintain a home broadband subscription; an additional ~12–15% are mobile‑only internet households. Access is strongest in Hobbs/Lovington; rural areas rely more on fixed wireless and mobile data.
• Estimated email users: ~40,000–42,000 adult email users (derived from adult population x internet adoption in NM x email adoption among online adults).
• Age distribution of email users (estimated): 18–34 ≈ 35%; 35–54 ≈ 40%; 55–64 ≈ 15%; 65+ ≈ 10%. Younger working‑age adults dominate due to the county’s energy‑sector labor profile.
• Gender split (estimated): roughly even, slight male tilt (~51% male, 49% female), mirroring the county’s sex ratio.
• Trends and insights: Email remains near‑universal among connected adults and is frequently accessed via smartphones. Fiber/cable growth in population centers is improving reliability and speeds, while sparsely populated areas face higher dependence on mobile connectivity. The expiration of federal affordability support in 2024–2025 may pressure subscription rates among lower‑income households.

Mobile phone usage in Lea County, New Mexico: estimates, structure, and how it differs from the state

Headline differences from New Mexico overall

• More mobile-dependent than the state average, driven by a younger population and the oil-and-gas workforce.
• Better low-band 4G/5G coverage along highways and in towns than in many rural NM counties, but sharper drop-offs and congestion on oilfield corridors compared with statewide patterns.
• Higher uptake of employer-provided lines, mobile hotspots, and fixed wireless access (FWA) than the NM average; lower reliance on wireline broadband outside Hobbs/Lovington.
• Carrier balance skews toward AT&T/FirstNet and Verizon in field areas; T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G is strong in town but patchier in outlying lease roads compared with its urban NM footprint.

User and device estimates (2023–2024 best-available estimates)

• Total population: ~76,000 (2020 Census baseline 74,455; continued Permian Basin growth through 2023).
• Adults (18+): ~54,000–56,000 (Lea County is younger than the NM average).
• Adult mobile phone ownership (any cellphone): ~95% → 51,000–53,000 adult users.
• Adult smartphone ownership: ~85–88% → 46,000–49,000 adult smartphone users.
• Teen smartphone users (13–17): ~4,500–5,000 (smartphone access among teens ~90–95%).
• Total regular smartphone users (adults + teens): ~50,000–54,000.
• Households: ~25,000–26,000.
• Mobile-only internet households (no wired home broadband): ~18–22% → about 4,500–5,500 households (higher than statewide).
• Lines paid by employers or expensed (public safety, energy services, contractors): meaningfully above NM average; field teams commonly carry a primary smartphone plus a work hotspot or rugged device.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Younger profile than NM overall. Higher teen share drives strong messaging/video and app-based scheduling; seniors’ smartphone adoption slightly higher than typical rural NM due to family/work connectivity.
• Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino majority (roughly 60%+). Above-average smartphone dependence for primary connectivity in bilingual households; prepaid and multi-line family plans are common.
• Occupation: Oil-and-gas, construction, transport, and public safety dominate nonfarm employment; these sectors rely on voice coverage, PTT-type apps, GPS/dispatch, and hotspot tethering in the field.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage pattern:
  • Towns (Hobbs, Lovington, parts of Eunice and Jal): solid LTE and low-/mid-band 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon; indoor coverage is generally reliable in commercial corridors and public facilities.
  • Highways and lease roads (NM-18, NM-128, US-62/180, US-82): broad low-band 4G/5G coverage with gaps in remote oilfield blocks; performance is sensitive to terrain, distance from macrosites, and network load during shift changes.
• 5G specifics:
  • Low-band 5G blankets population centers and primary routes for all three national carriers.
  • Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon/AT&T C-band) is strongest in Hobbs/Lovington and selected nodes near industrial sites; limited reach into rural pads and compressor stations.
  • mmWave small cells are minimal to absent.
• Towers and backhaul (order-of-magnitude):
  • Roughly 50–70 carrier macro cell sites countywide across all operators, clustered along the US-62/180, NM-18, NM-128, and US-82 corridors and in towns; additional microwave relays support oilfield coverage.
  • Fiber backhaul is present along major routes and within municipal grids; microwave backhaul remains important for remote sectors.
• Key providers and roles:
  • AT&T/FirstNet: strong public-safety and energy-sector adoption; Band 14 enhances rural reliability.
  • Verizon: broad legacy LTE footprint and DSS 5G along corridors; enterprise and fleet presence.
  • T-Mobile: leading mid-band 5G capacity in Hobbs/Lovington; extended-range 600 MHz provides wide-area coverage with reduced throughput far from towns.
  • Local/wireline context: Sparklight (cable) and regional telcos/co-ops provide fiber/coax in towns; in rural areas many households and job sites lean on mobile hotspots or FWA for primary internet.

Usage behaviors that diverge from statewide norms

• Higher daytime network load tied to oilfield shift patterns, with noticeable congestion during morning deployments and evening returns on NM-128 and US-62/180.
• Above-average adoption of:
  • Mobile hotspots and ruggedized devices for field data collection, telemetry, and mapping.
  • Fixed Wireless Access (5G/LTE) as a home/office broadband substitute outside cable/fiber footprints.
  • Employer-procured lines and FirstNet subscriptions among public agencies and contractors.
• Cross-border network dynamics with Texas markets (roaming/handovers near the state line) slightly affect device provisioning and plan selection.

Practical implications

• Capacity matters more than nominal coverage: mid-band infill and additional backhaul on oilfield corridors yield outsized benefits relative to new low-band sites.
• Public-safety and enterprise features (Priority/Preemption, Band 14, fleet management) see higher utilization than statewide, supporting investment cases for network hardening.
• Digital inclusion efforts in Lea County should emphasize affordable smartphone plans, bilingual support, and mobile-first services, alongside targeted fiber expansions in Hobbs/Lovington and FWA in outlying communities.

Method note: Figures are 2020–2024 best-available estimates derived from census baselines, national/rural smartphone adoption research, and typical rural network inventories; where local administrative counts are not published, ranges reflect conservative, defensible approximations.

Lea County, NM social media usage (2024, modeled estimates)

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each platform)

• YouTube: 82–84%
• Facebook: 64–68%
• Instagram: 44–48%
• TikTok: 33–36%
• WhatsApp: 32–35% (elevated by Lea County’s large Hispanic population)
• Pinterest: 28–32%
• Snapchat: 26–29%
• LinkedIn: 22–28%
• X (Twitter): 20–23%
• Reddit: 16–19%

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (95%), TikTok (65–70%), Snapchat (60%), Instagram (60%); Facebook low. Heavy short‑form video and messaging; group chats for school, youth sports, and church.
• 18–29: Very high on YouTube (95%); Instagram (75–80%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (60%); Facebook (~30%). Reels/TikTok dominate discovery; DMs drive most interactions.
• 30–49: Facebook (70%+) and YouTube (90%+) are core; Instagram (45–50%), TikTok (30–35%); WhatsApp strong in Hispanic households (≈40–45%). Marketplace and local groups used weekly.
• 50–64: Facebook (70%), YouTube (80%+); Instagram (25–30%), WhatsApp (20–25%); TikTok adoption rising but still secondary.
• 65+: Facebook (50%) and YouTube (50%) lead; other platforms niche.

Gender breakdown (adult users)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Benchmarks: Facebook ~70–75%, Instagram ~50%+, Pinterest ~40%+, TikTok ~30–35%.
• Men: More likely to use YouTube, Reddit, and X. Benchmarks: YouTube ~85%+, Reddit ~20–25%, X ~22–25%.
• Overall user base skews roughly balanced by gender, with women slightly over-represented on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest and men on YouTube/Reddit/X.

Behavioral trends and usage habits

• Local information and community: Facebook Groups/pages are the hub for city updates, schools, local sports, events, lost-and-found pets, and weather/road alerts. Comments and shares drive reach more than link clicks.
• Marketplace and classifieds: Facebook Marketplace is a go-to for vehicles, tools/equipment, furniture, rentals, and services; seller responsiveness and trust signals (local profile, mutuals) matter.
• Language and culture: Bilingual (English/Spanish) posts perform better; WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are primary channels for family networks and community coordination.
• Video-first consumption: Short-form vertical video (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) outperforms static posts for reach and recall; how-to content, local highlights, and human-interest stories travel best.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (pre‑work) and late evening (post‑shift), with weekend spikes around local events and high school athletics.
• Youth communication norms: Teens and college‑age users cluster in Snapchat groups and Instagram Stories; public feeds underrepresent their actual activity.
• Trust dynamics: Closed/neighbor groups have higher perceived credibility; posts from recognizable local figures and organizations outperform generic pages.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates applying Pew Research Center’s U.S. platform usage by age and gender to Lea County’s demographic profile (ACS), with WhatsApp scaled for Hispanic adoption. Percentages represent share of adults using each platform; teen figures reflect national teen benchmarks applied locally.