PlainZIP

Hobbs, NM · standard

ZIP Code 88242

Lea County, New Mexico — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

6,141
43/sq mi
$90,000
Median income
$260,200
Median home value
20.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Hobbs pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 27%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 40%
home value, US ZIPs
43
people per sq mi
84%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 88242 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 88242 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 143.5 square miles in Hobbs, Lea County, New Mexico. The area is home to 6,141 residents, producing a population density of 43 people per square mile, and falls within the Denver time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 88242 against New Mexico and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 88242 sits at $90,000 (52% above the New Mexico average), while per-capita income is $39,032. The poverty rate stands at 10.1% and the unemployment rate at 5.7%. On housing, the median home value is $260,200 (21% above the state average) with median rent at $1,534 per month, and 84.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 88242 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 20.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.5, and the average commute is 23 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 88242 sits relative to New Mexico and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 88242

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 88242.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 88242, Hobbs, NM · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

6,141

Population

143.5

Area (sq mi)

43

People / sq mi

Denver

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 88242?

32.5

Median Age

51.2%

Male

48.8%

Female

16.5%

Foreign-Born

White 55.6%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 31.8%
Hispanic or Latino 57.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$90,000

Median Household Income

+52% vs state

$39,032

Per Capita Income

10.1%

Poverty Rate

5.7%

Unemployment Rate

22.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 88242 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$90,000 Top 27% higher than 73% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 56.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

2,967

Total Housing Units

2,742

Occupied Units

225

Vacant Units

3.07

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 84.4%
Renter 15.6%

$260,200

Median Home Value

+21% vs state

$1,534

Median Rent

1994

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+1.6%

YoY Change (2024)

315

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+215%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 88242 have increased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +215% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.6% 246
2021 +4.6% 257
2022 +5.5% 272
2023 +14.0% 310
2024 +1.6% 315

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 85 business establishments in ZIP 88242, employing approximately 1,158 people with a combined annual payroll of $63,487,000.

85

Businesses

1,158

Employees

$63.5M

Annual Payroll

8

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Transportation and warehousing 21 24.7%
Construction 17 20.0%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 10 11.8%
Other services (except public administration) 10 11.8%
Retail trade 6 7.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 4.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 4.7%
Health care and social assistance 4 4.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Lea County

88240 standard
Hobbs, NM
Pop: 37,149
88260 standard
Lovington, NM
Pop: 14,343
88231 standard
Eunice, NM
Pop: 3,238
88252 standard
Jal, NM
Pop: 2,160
88267 standard
Tatum, NM
Pop: 1,349
88265 standard
Monument, NM
Pop: 243

Related Areas

Lea County Hobbs, NM New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 88242 in? ▼
ZIP code 88242 (Hobbs) is located in Lea County, New Mexico. Lea County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lea-nm.
What is the population of ZIP code 88242? ▼
ZIP code 88242 in Hobbs, NM has a population of 6,141 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 88242? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 88242 is $90,000, which is 18% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 88242? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 88242 is $260,200, which is 6% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 88242? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 88242 is White at 55.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 57.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 88242? ▼
ZIP code 88242 has 85 business establishments employing approximately 1,158 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 88242? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 88242 are: Transportation and warehousing (21), Construction (17), Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (10). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 88242? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 88242 increased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 215%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 88242? ▼
In ZIP code 88242, 56.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 88242? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 88242 is 22.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 88242? ▼
In ZIP code 88242, approximately 84.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 88242? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 88242 is 10.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Hobbs, NM

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.