Ruidoso, NM · standard
ZIP Code 88345
Lincoln County, New Mexico - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,845
- 104/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,971
- Median income Below-median income area
- $263,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 38.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Ruidoso pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 20th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 104
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 88345 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 88345 (Ruidoso, NM) rose +1.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 277.1 in 2023 to 280.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 88345 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ruidoso, Lincoln County, New Mexico, home to 8,845 residents across 85.5 square miles, a density of 104 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.
ZIP 88345 reports a modest median household income of $53,971 (9% below the average New Mexico ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,044. The poverty rate is 19.7%, with unemployment at 3.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $263,700 (23% above the average New Mexico ZIP), while 70.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $917.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.7, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lincoln County, so 88345 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 88345
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ruidoso, NM
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 88345.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
96 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
79 establishments
- Construction
Construction
44 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
39 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 36
Health care and social assistance
36 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 88345, Ruidoso, NM · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
8,845
Population
85.5
Area (sq mi)
104
People / sq mi
Denver
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 88345?
47.7
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
3.9%
Foreign-Born
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?
$53,971
Median Household Income
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$38,044
Per Capita Income
19.7%
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 88345 ranks among New Mexico ZIPs
Ruidoso, NM household income vs. every New Mexico ZIP code
Median household income among 265 reporting New Mexico ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$53,971 48th percentile higher than 48% of 265 New Mexico ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Mexico 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,857housing units
8,857
Total Housing Units
3,974
Occupied Units
4,883
Vacant Units
1.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$263,700
Median Home Value
+23% vs state ZIP avg
$917
Median Rent
1982
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
+1.1%
YoY Change (2024)
280
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+180%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 88345 have increased 1.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +180% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.0% | 181 |
| 2021 | +13.5% | 206 |
| 2022 | +18.1% | 243 |
| 2023 | +14.1% | 277 |
| 2024 | +1.1% | 280 |
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 451 business establishments in ZIP 88345, employing approximately 3,765 people with a combined annual payroll of $134,756,000.
451
Businesses
3,765
Employees
$134.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 96 | 21.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 79 | 17.5% |
| Construction | 44 | 9.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 39 | 8.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 36 | 8.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 36 | 8.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 34 | 7.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 30 | 6.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 13 | 2.9% |
| Information | 10 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 2.2% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 1.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 1.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 88345 vs 88355 →
ZIP 88345 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 88345
Ruidoso (88345)
8,845 residents
- 88346 3,132
Ruidoso Downs (88346)
3,132 residents
- 88312 2,586
Alto (88312)
2,586 residents
- 88341 538
Nogal (88341)
538 residents
- 88355 29
Ruidoso (88355)
29 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 88345 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 88345 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 88312
Alto (88312)
$80,345 median income
- 88345
Ruidoso (88345)
$53,971 median income
- 88341
Nogal (88341)
$48,393 median income
- 88346
Ruidoso Downs (88346)
$33,594 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 88345 ranks #2 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 88345, both outside NM so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (8,845 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lincoln County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 88345 in?
ZIP code 88345 (Ruidoso) is located in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Lincoln County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lincoln-nm.
What is the population of ZIP code 88345?
ZIP code 88345 in Ruidoso, NM has a population of 8,845 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 88345?
The median household income in ZIP 88345 is $53,971, which is 29% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 88345?
The median home value in ZIP 88345 is $263,700, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 88345?
The largest racial group in ZIP 88345 is White at 74.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 28.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 88345?
ZIP code 88345 has 451 business establishments employing approximately 3,765 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 88345?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 88345 are: Retail trade (96), Accommodation and food services (79), Construction (44). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 88345?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 88345 increased by 1.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 180%. 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 88345?
In ZIP code 88345, 55.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 88345?
In ZIP code 88345, approximately 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 88345?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 88345 is 19.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 88345's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 88345 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ruidoso, NM ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.