Zip code 88252: Jal, New Mexico
Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.
About 88252
88252 is a rural zip code in Jal, New Mexico (Lea County), covering 855 sq mi of land. About 2,364 people live here, or 3 per square mile. The median resident is 39.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.
32% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). The median home value is $97,600. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,318 a month.
19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods. 51% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.
How 88252 compares
- Unemployment rate18.8%99thWeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NM 6%20th of 309 in NM
- Poverty rate32%97thWeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NM 17.8%61st of 311 in NM
- 97thU.S. 14.5% · NM 23.4%107th of 308 in NM
- Uninsured rate21.4%96thWeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NM 9.6%28th of 312 in NM
- 95thWeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NM 0.47734th of 307 in NM
- Median earnings per worker$78,91392ndStrengthU.S. $49,666 · NM $41,75810th of 278 in NM
- Housing vacancy17.2%90thU.S. 10.1% · NM 12.5%176th of 311 in NM
- 73rdU.S. 14.1% · NM 9.4%23rd of 315 in NM
- Residents under 1824.4%70thU.S. 22% · NM 21.7%93rd of 315 in NM
- Homeownership rate72.5%60thU.S. 65.2% · NM 70%219th of 311 in NM
- Median age39.654thU.S. 38.9 · NM 39.4197th of 314 in NM
- Per capita income$38,07844thU.S. $44,673 · NM $36,21889th of 312 in NM
- Median gross rent$1,31844thU.S. $1,413 · NM $1,06729th of 173 in NM
- Diversity index45.244thU.S. 61.4 · NM 62.7152nd of 315 in NM
- 43rdU.S. 17.2% · NM 19.3%225th of 315 in NM
- Veterans5.1%40thU.S. 6.2% · NM 7.9%198th of 315 in NM
- 18thWeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NM 31%161st of 315 in NM
- 12thU.S. 10% · NM 10.2%191st of 308 in NM
- Average commute18 min6thStrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NM 23.5 min206th of 235 in NM
- Work from home4.6%6thU.S. 15.1% · NM 12.2%208th of 307 in NM
- 6thStrengthU.S. 51.1% · NM 50.2%167th of 236 in NM
- Population2,3644thU.S. 334,922,499 · NM 2,120,246116th of 315 in NM
- Broadband access78.6%3rdWeaknessU.S. 91% · NM 86.5%182nd of 311 in NM
- Median home value$97,6002ndU.S. $332,700 · NM $248,100212th of 250 in NM
- Population density3/sq mi1stU.S. 95/sq mi · NM 18/sq mi243rd of 315 in NM
- 1stU.S. 3.8% · NM 2.7%199th of 308 in NM
- 1stU.S. 9.7% · NM 10.3%257th of 308 in NM
| Measure | 88252 | Lea | NM | U.S. | National percentile | Rank in NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateWeakness | 18.8% | 6.9% | 6% | 5.2% | 20th of 309 | |
| Poverty rateWeakness | 32% | 18.7% | 17.8% | 12.5% | 61st of 311 | |
| Government workers | 28% | 15.7% | 23.4% | 14.5% | 107th of 308 | |
| Uninsured rateWeakness | 21.4% | 14.9% | 9.6% | 8.4% | 28th of 312 | |
| Income inequality (Gini)Weakness | 0.527 | 0.489 | 0.477 | 0.483 | 34th of 307 | |
| Median earnings per workerStrength | $78,913 | $41,592 | $41,758 | $49,666 | 10th of 278 | |
| Housing vacancy | 17.2% | 13.1% | 12.5% | 10.1% | 176th of 311 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 19.3% | 18.3% | 9.4% | 14.1% | 23rd of 315 | |
| Residents under 18 | 24.4% | 29.5% | 21.7% | 22% | 93rd of 315 | |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 71.2% | 70% | 65.2% | 219th of 311 | |
| Median age | 39.6 | 32.5 | 39.4 | 38.9 | 197th of 314 | |
| Per capita income | $38,078 | $31,326 | $36,218 | $44,673 | 89th of 312 | |
| Median gross rent | $1,318 | $1,101 | $1,067 | $1,413 | 29th of 173 | |
| Diversity index | 45.2 | 50.9 | 62.7 | 61.4 | 152nd of 315 | |
| Residents 65 and older | 15.6% | 11.4% | 19.3% | 17.2% | 225th of 315 | |
| Veterans | 5.1% | 3.4% | 7.9% | 6.2% | 198th of 315 | |
| Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness | 19% | 15.5% | 31% | 35.7% | 161st of 315 | |
| Self-employed workers | 6.3% | 11.2% | 10.2% | 10% | 191st of 308 | |
| Average commuteStrength | 18 min | 24.4 min | 23.5 min | 26.4 min | 206th of 235 | |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 3.7% | 12.2% | 15.1% | 208th of 307 | |
| Rent-burdened rentersStrength | 31.3% | 48.4% | 50.2% | 51.1% | 167th of 236 | |
| Population | 2,364 | 73,733 | 2,120,246 | 334,922,499 | 116th of 315 | |
| Broadband accessWeakness | 78.6% | 86.3% | 86.5% | 91% | 182nd of 311 | |
| Median home value | $97,600 | $184,000 | $248,100 | $332,700 | 212th of 250 | |
| Population density | 3/sq mi | 17/sq mi | 18/sq mi | 95/sq mi | 243rd of 315 | |
| Tech workers | 0% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 199th of 308 | |
| Healthcare workers | 0% | 4.1% | 10.3% | 9.7% | 257th of 308 |
The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.
People
Age
Race and ethnicity
- White34%
- Black0%
- Hispanic66%
- Asian0%
- Native American0%
- Pacific Islander0%
- Other0%
- Multiracial0%
Language spoken at home (households)
Households
- Households
- 859
- Average household size
- 2.8
- Family households
- 71.6%
- Married couples
- 50.2%
- Living alone
- 22.7%
- Veterans (of adults)
- 5.1%
- Male / female
- 50% / 50%
Income and poverty
Household income distribution
Median household income
Housing
Median home value
Median gross rent
Types of housing
- Housing units
- 1,037
- Owner-occupied
- 72.5%
- Vacant
- 17.2%
- Median year built
- 1963
- Median rooms
- 5.2
- Renters paying 30%+ of income
- 31.3%
- Renters paying 50%+ of income
- 31.3%
- Home value to income
- —
Work and commute
How people get to work
Commute time (one way)
Jobs and careers
Occupations
Industries
Median earnings by type of work
| Type of work | 88252 | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | $98,254 | $74,888 |
| Service | $21,071 | $26,804 |
| Sales and office | $17,101 | $40,476 |
| Construction and maintenance | $71,384 | $49,199 |
| Production and transportation | $97,702 | $39,989 |
Education, internet and health coverage
Highest education (adults 25+)
- High school graduate or higher
- 73%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19%
- Graduate or professional degree
- 13.8%
- Households with broadband
- 78.6%
- Cable, fiber or DSL
- 48.9%
- No internet access
- 20.5%
- Without health insurance
- 21.4%
- Limited-English households
- 9.3%
Geography
- City (USPS)
- Jal
- State
- New Mexico
- County
- Lea County
- Center point
- 32.1552° N, 103.3780° W
- Land area
- 855 sq mi
- Water area
- under 0.1 sq mi
- Time zone
- Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
- Zip type
- Residential delivery area
Zip codes near 88252
| Zip | City | Distance | IncomeMedian income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88231 | Eunice, NM | 20 mi | $51,417 |
| 79754 | Mentone, TX | 24 mi | $51,250 |
| 79789 | Wink, TX | 27 mi | $106,250 |
| 79745 | Kermit, TX | 29 mi | $80,585 |
| 88265 | Monument, NM | 30 mi | — |
| 88256 | Loving, NM | 30 mi | $45,714 |
| 88240 | Hobbs, NM | 36 mi | $63,270 |
| 79770 | Orla, TX | 38 mi | — |
| 88241 | Hobbs, NM · PO box | 42 mi | — |
| 88244 | Hobbs, NM | 43 mi | — |
| 79741 | Goldsmith, TX | 44 mi | $112,969 |
| 79714 | Andrews, TX | 45 mi | $72,242 |
Questions about 88252
What city is zip code 88252?
88252 is assigned to Jal, New Mexico. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.
What county is 88252 in?
88252 is in Lea County, New Mexico.
What is the population of 88252?
About 2,364 people live in 88252, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What time zone is 88252 in?
88252 is in Mountain Time.
What zip codes are near 88252?
The closest zip codes to 88252 are 88231, 79754, 79789, 79745, 88265.
Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 88252, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.