PlainZIP

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
$53,971
Median income
$263,700
Median home value
38.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

ZIP code 88345 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 85.5 square miles in Ruidoso, Lincoln County, New Mexico. The area is home to 8,845 residents, producing a population density of 104 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 88345 against New Mexico and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 88345 sits at $53,971 (9% below the New Mexico average), while per-capita income is $38,044. The poverty rate stands at 19.7% and the unemployment rate at 3.2%. On housing, the median home value is $263,700 (23% above the state average) with median rent at $917 per month, and 70.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 88345 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.7, and the average commute is —. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lincoln County, so you can benchmark 88345 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. 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 88345

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 88345.

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 88345, Ruidoso, 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

8,845

Population

85.5

Area (sq mi)

104

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 88345?

47.7

Median Age

48.8%

Male

51.2%

Female

3.9%

Foreign-Born

White 74.1%
African American 2.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 16.9%
Hispanic or Latino 28.2%

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

$38,044

Per Capita Income

19.7%

Poverty Rate

3.2%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 88345 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$53,971 20th percentile higher than 20% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 55.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.4%

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

What does housing look like?

8,857

Total Housing Units

3,974

Occupied Units

4,883

Vacant Units

1.97

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.2%
Renter 29.8%

$263,700

Median Home Value

+23% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 88345 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 88345 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
88355 Ruidoso, NM 29 1.2 mi
88312 Alto, NM 2,586 5.8 mi
88346 Ruidoso Downs, NM 3,132 8.1 mi
88341 Nogal, NM 538 11.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lincoln County

88346 standard
Ruidoso Downs, NM
Pop: 3,132
88312 standard
Alto, NM
Pop: 2,586
88316 standard
Capitan, NM
Pop: 2,351
88301 standard
Carrizozo, NM
Pop: 1,386
88341 standard
Nogal, NM
Pop: 538
88318 standard
Corona, NM
Pop: 381

Related Areas

Lincoln County Ruidoso, NM New Mexico

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.

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 Ruidoso, 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.