Residential delivery area · New Mexico
ZIP Code 88242: Hobbs, NM
ZIP code 88242 uses the postal name Hobbs, New Mexico and lies entirely in Lea County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 8,500 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Hobbs's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $90,000 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 32% of its land lies in North Hobbs (a census-designated place), and 2% in smaller places; 66% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Hobbs · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Lea County
- Census places
- North Hobbs census-designated place
- Micro area
- Hobbs, NM
- House district
- NM-3 119th Congress
- State
- New Mexico
- Time zone
- Mountain
- Land area
- 70.4 sq mi · 120 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 88241 also use the name Hobbs
Where is ZIP code 88242?
88242 centers on 32.813°, -103.162° and covers 70.4 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 3 ZIP codes: 88260, 88240, 79360.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 88242, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 88242 compare with the rest of Hobbs?
| Measure | 88242 | In Hobbs | In Lea County | In NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 8,472 | 2nd of 3 | 3rd of 11 | 62nd of 371 |
| Median household income | $90k | 1st of 2 | 1st of 3 | 14th of 108 |
| Median home value | $260k | 1st of 2 | 1st of 4 | 43rd of 120 |
Its median household income is higher than in 73% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 56% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 88242?
The 2020 Census counted 8,126 people in 88242; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 8,472. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 8,472
- 2020 Census count
- 8,126
- Households
- 2,742
- Median age
- 32.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 88242?
Of the 8,472 people the ACS estimates in 88242, 27.0% are under 18 and 9.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (57.5%), then White (not Hispanic) (40.2%).
- Under 1827.0%
- 18 to 6463.7%
- 65 and older9.3%
- Hispanic or Latino57.5%
- White, not Hispanic40.2%
- Other or two or more2.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.1%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 88242 earn?
Median household income is $90,000 (ACS 2020-2024), the highest of the 3 ranked ZIP codes in Lea County.
- Median household income
- $90,000±$14,357
- Income per person
- $39,032
- Below the poverty line
- 10.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 20.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $92,9333,290 returns; wages 69% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 88242?
FHFA's house price index for 88242, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 58% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 38% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $260,200
- Median gross rent
- $1,534
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 84.4%
- Housing units
- 2,967
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 88242?
85 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 1 more than in 2018; the most are in transportation and warehousing (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Transportation and warehousing21
- Construction17
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction10
- Other services (except public administration)10
- Retail trade6
- Real estate and rental and leasing4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 88242?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88260 | Lovington | 15,160 | $76k | 17.9 mi |
| 88240 | Hobbs | 41,557 | $63k | 19.1 mi |
| 79360 | Seminole, TX | 17,342 | $80k | 26.8 mi |
| 88244 | Hobbs | 1,105 | – | 5.0 mi (near) |
| 79323 | Denver City, TX | 7,485 | $87k | 17.1 mi (near) |
| 88265 | Monument | 432 | – | 19.1 mi (near) |
| 88262 | McDonald | 20 | – | 25.8 mi (near) |
| 88231 | Eunice | 3,255 | $51k | 27.5 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.