RANK #266 / 996 · POP 61,264 · NM
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.7%
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.
Prices declining
Housing looks undervalued at 1.2x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Eddy County has a Boom Town Index score of 73/100, ranking #266 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.3% and a median household income of $77,458, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Eddy County is $188,400 with median rent at $1,095/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4111, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.3%. Home values changed -1.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.77% of Eddy County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.