Zip code 88340: Mescalero, New Mexico
Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.
About 88340
88340 is a rural zip code in Mescalero, New Mexico (Otero County), covering 718 sq mi of land. About 3,590 people live here, or 5 per square mile. The median resident is 33.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.
The median household earns $36,927 a year, about 46% of the national median of $80,734. 28.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $48,600, or 1.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $330 a month.
14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.5 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in food service; construction and repair; and cleaning and personal care. 64% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often another language, such as Arabic or a Native American language.
How 88340 compares
- Government workers53.8%99thU.S. 14.5% · NM 23.4%21st of 308 in NM
- Poverty rate28.7%95thWeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NM 17.8%73rd of 311 in NM
- Unemployment rate10.1%94thWeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NM 6%64th of 309 in NM
- 92ndWeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NM 9.6%50th of 312 in NM
- Housing vacancy19.1%92ndU.S. 10.1% · NM 12.5%158th of 311 in NM
- Residents under 1826.2%82ndU.S. 22% · NM 21.7%69th of 315 in NM
- 76thU.S. 0.483 · NM 0.47791st of 307 in NM
- Homeownership rate71.6%57thU.S. 65.2% · NM 70%226th of 311 in NM
- 32ndU.S. 17.2% · NM 19.3%240th of 315 in NM
- Average commute22.5 min26thU.S. 26.4 min · NM 23.5 min157th of 235 in NM
- Veterans3.8%24thU.S. 6.2% · NM 7.9%224th of 315 in NM
- Diversity index26.620thU.S. 61.4 · NM 62.7231st of 315 in NM
- 13thU.S. 9.7% · NM 10.3%176th of 308 in NM
- Median age33.212thU.S. 38.9 · NM 39.4267th of 314 in NM
- 7thWeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NM 31%207th of 315 in NM
- Population3,5906thU.S. 334,922,499 · NM 2,120,24687th of 315 in NM
- 4thStrengthU.S. 51.1% · NM 50.2%177th of 236 in NM
- Median earnings per worker$31,3224thWeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NM $41,758203rd of 278 in NM
- Tech workers0.2%4thU.S. 3.8% · NM 2.7%150th of 308 in NM
- Per capita income$20,7543rdWeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NM $36,218250th of 312 in NM
- Median household income$36,9272ndWeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NM $64,059214th of 256 in NM
- Work from home2.7%2ndU.S. 15.1% · NM 12.2%238th of 307 in NM
- 2ndU.S. 14.1% · NM 9.4%217th of 315 in NM
- Population density5/sq mi1stU.S. 95/sq mi · NM 18/sq mi208th of 315 in NM
- Median home value$48,6001stU.S. $332,700 · NM $248,100241st of 250 in NM
- 1stU.S. $1,413 · NM $1,067173rd of 173 in NM
- Broadband access71.9%1stWeaknessU.S. 91% · NM 86.5%224th of 311 in NM
- 1stU.S. 10% · NM 10.2%238th of 308 in NM
| Measure | 88340 | Otero | NM | U.S. | National percentile | Rank in NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government workers | 53.8% | 24.7% | 23.4% | 14.5% | 21st of 308 | |
| Poverty rateWeakness | 28.7% | 19.3% | 17.8% | 12.5% | 73rd of 311 | |
| Unemployment rateWeakness | 10.1% | 8.6% | 6% | 5.2% | 64th of 309 | |
| Uninsured rateWeakness | 17% | 10.1% | 9.6% | 8.4% | 50th of 312 | |
| Housing vacancy | 19.1% | 25% | 12.5% | 10.1% | 158th of 311 | |
| Residents under 18 | 26.2% | 21.9% | 21.7% | 22% | 69th of 315 | |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 0.471 | 0.430 | 0.477 | 0.483 | 91st of 307 | |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 67% | 70% | 65.2% | 226th of 311 | |
| Residents 65 and older | 14.2% | 17.5% | 19.3% | 17.2% | 240th of 315 | |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 22.1 min | 23.5 min | 26.4 min | 157th of 235 | |
| Veterans | 3.8% | 14.6% | 7.9% | 6.2% | 224th of 315 | |
| Diversity index | 26.6 | 63 | 62.7 | 61.4 | 231st of 315 | |
| Healthcare workers | 6.7% | 10.6% | 10.3% | 9.7% | 176th of 308 | |
| Median age | 33.2 | 36.4 | 39.4 | 38.9 | 267th of 314 | |
| Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness | 13.6% | 22.7% | 31% | 35.7% | 207th of 315 | |
| Population | 3,590 | 68,816 | 2,120,246 | 334,922,499 | 87th of 315 | |
| Rent-burdened rentersStrength | 29.4% | 46.8% | 50.2% | 51.1% | 177th of 236 | |
| Median earnings per workerWeakness | $31,322 | $36,175 | $41,758 | $49,666 | 203rd of 278 | |
| Tech workers | 0.2% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 150th of 308 | |
| Per capita incomeWeakness | $20,754 | $29,760 | $36,218 | $44,673 | 250th of 312 | |
| Median household incomeWeakness | $36,927 | $55,876 | $64,059 | $80,734 | 214th of 256 | |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 6.7% | 12.2% | 15.1% | 238th of 307 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 14.1% | 217th of 315 | |
| Population density | 5/sq mi | 10/sq mi | 18/sq mi | 95/sq mi | 208th of 315 | |
| Median home value | $48,600 | $162,700 | $248,100 | $332,700 | 241st of 250 | |
| Median gross rent | $330 | $962 | $1,067 | $1,413 | 173rd of 173 | |
| Broadband accessWeakness | 71.9% | 90% | 86.5% | 91% | 224th of 311 | |
| Self-employed workers | 2.2% | 10.4% | 10.2% | 10% | 238th 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
- White6%
- Black0%
- Hispanic8%
- Asian0%
- Native American85%
- Pacific Islander0%
- Other0%
- Multiracial0.5%
Language spoken at home (households)
Households
- Households
- 890
- Average household size
- 4
- Family households
- 58.7%
- Married couples
- 26.6%
- Living alone
- 38.2%
- Veterans (of adults)
- 3.8%
- Male / female
- 49% / 51%
Income and poverty
Household income distribution
Median household income
Housing
Median home value
Median gross rent
Types of housing
- Housing units
- 1,100
- Owner-occupied
- 71.6%
- Vacant
- 19.1%
- Median year built
- 1984
- Median rooms
- 5.5
- Renters paying 30%+ of income
- 29.4%
- Renters paying 50%+ of income
- 8.4%
- Home value to income
- 1.3× (U.S. 4.1×)
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 | 88340 | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | $56,912 | $74,888 |
| Service | $21,433 | $26,804 |
| Sales and office | $19,500 | $40,476 |
| Construction and maintenance | $34,189 | $49,199 |
| Production and transportation | $6,458 | $39,989 |
Education, internet and health coverage
Highest education (adults 25+)
- High school graduate or higher
- 80%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 13.6%
- Graduate or professional degree
- 1.7%
- Households with broadband
- 71.9%
- Cable, fiber or DSL
- 59%
- No internet access
- 23.4%
- Without health insurance
- 17%
- Limited-English households
- 2.6%
Geography
- City (USPS)
- Mescalero
- State
- New Mexico
- County
- Otero County
- Center point
- 33.1761° N, 105.5832° W
- Land area
- 718 sq mi
- Water area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Time zone
- Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
- Zip type
- Residential delivery area
Cities and towns within this zip
- Mescalero (unincorporated)3% of zip
Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.
Zip codes near 88340
| Zip | City | Distance | IncomeMedian income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88346 | Ruidoso Downs, NM | 12 mi | $33,594 |
| 88345 | Ruidoso, NM | 13 mi | $53,971 |
| 88355 | Ruidoso, NM | 14 mi | — |
| 88314 | Bent, NM | 17 mi | — |
| 88324 | Glencoe, NM | 17 mi | — |
| 88312 | Alto, NM | 18 mi | $80,345 |
| 88348 | San Patricio, NM | 20 mi | $86,985 |
| 88336 | Hondo, NM | 21 mi | — |
| 88339 | Mayhill, NM | 21 mi | $57,375 |
| 88337 | La Luz, NM | 21 mi | $60,597 |
| 88323 | Fort Stanton, NM | 21 mi | — |
| 88317 | Cloudcroft, NM | 23 mi | $136,250 |
Zip codes like 88340 elsewhere
Questions about 88340
What city is zip code 88340?
88340 is assigned to Mescalero, New Mexico. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.
What county is 88340 in?
88340 is in Otero County, New Mexico.
What is the population of 88340?
About 3,590 people live in 88340, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What time zone is 88340 in?
88340 is in Mountain Time.
What is the median household income in 88340?
The median household income in 88340 is $36,927.
What zip codes are near 88340?
The closest zip codes to 88340 are 88346, 88345, 88355, 88314, 88324.
Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 88340, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.