88340 ZIP Code — Mescalero, NM

Otero County, New Mexico

ZIP code 88340 is located in Mescalero, New Mexico, within Otero County. It covers approximately 718.33 square miles and serves a population of 3,969 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Mountain (MT) timezone, served by area code 575.

About ZIP code 88340

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1980s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $43,800. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 64%.

Median household income is $38,209. Poverty affects 30% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 46% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 32% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with arts, entertainment, and food service as the leading industry. The average commute of 20 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 15% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (35%), poor mental health (22%) compared to national benchmarks. 20% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 23%.

Overall, ZIP code 88340 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

3,969

population

718.33

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Mountain (MT)

timezone

88340 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 88340

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 88340. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Mescalero	Acceptable
Mescalero	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

88346 Ruidoso Downs (13.4 mi) 88345 Ruidoso (13.6 mi) 88324 Glencoe (14.9 mi) 88312 Alto (16 mi) 88314 Bent (16.1 mi) 88337 La Luz (18 mi) 88348 San Patricio (19.9 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	3,969
Population density	6 / sq mi
State FIPS	35
County FIPS	035

Geography
Land area	718.33 sq mi
Water area	0.57 sq mi
Latitude	33.1966
Longitude	-105.6241
Timezone	Mountain (MT)
Area code	575

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.1%	52.9%	48.8%
$50k – $100k	32.2%	31.1%	29.4%
$100k – $200k	4.8%	13.7%	17.6%
Over $200k	0.9%	2.2%	4.1%

Demographics & statistics

3,969

Population

People per sq mi

32.5

Median age

$38,209

Median household income

$18,639

Per capita income

$43,800

Median home value

$308

Median monthly rent

63.5%

Home ownership

29.9%

Poverty rate

13.0%

Unemployment

807

Housing units

15.0%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

131

Under 5

145

5–9

105

170

10–14

187

214

15–19

235

126

20–24

139

283

25–34

311

267

35–44

294

150

45–54

165

55–59

108

114

60–64

126

125

65–74

137

104

75–84

115

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,088	27.4%
18 and over	2,881	72.6%
65 and over	504	12.7%
Median age	32.5 years

Race & ethnicity

American Indian / Alaska Native 87.5%

White 7.6%

Hispanic or Latino 2.1%

Two or more races 1.4%

Other race 1.3%

Black or African American 0.1%

Group	Count	%
American Indian / Alaska Native	3,548	87.5%
White	308	7.6%
Hispanic or Latino	84	2.1%
Two or more races	57	1.4%
Other race	52	1.3%
Black or African American	4	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.1%	52.9%	48.8%
$50k – $100k	32.2%	31.1%	29.4%
$100k – $200k	4.8%	13.7%	17.6%
Over $200k	0.9%	2.2%	4.1%

Under $10k 13.1%

$10k–$15k 12.3%

$15k–$25k 9.2%

$25k–$35k 12.8%

$35k–$50k 14.7%

$50k–$75k 19.7%

$75k–$100k 7.5%

$100k–$150k 7.5%

$150k–$200k 1.9%

$200k+ 1.2%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	13.1%
$10k–$15k	12.3%
$15k–$25k	9.2%
$25k–$35k	12.8%
$35k–$50k	14.7%
$50k–$75k	19.7%
$75k–$100k	7.5%
$100k–$150k	7.5%
$150k–$200k	1.9%
$200k+	1.2%
Median income	$38,209

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 56.2%

$50k–$100k 13.1%

$100k–$150k 13.0%

$150k–$200k 5.6%

$200k–$300k 1.0%

$300k–$500k 11.2%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$43,800
Median rent / month	$308
Owner occupied	63.5%
Renter occupied	36.5%
Vacant	15.6%
Single-family detached	64.7%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	32.0%
Median rooms	5.7
Avg household size (owned)	4.34

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	3.4%
2000–2009	19.1%
1990–1999	15.1%
1980–1989	22.5%
1970–1979	22.5%
1960–1969	4.7%
1950–1959	2.5%
1940–1949	3.6%
1939 or earlier	6.5%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.2%
1 bedroom	3.5%
2 bedrooms	20.0%
3 bedrooms	53.2%
4 bedrooms	21.1%
5+ bedrooms	2.1%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	18.0%
1 vehicle	37.5%
2 vehicles	27.3%
3 or more	17.3%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	11.3%
Electricity	7.6%
Propane / LP gas	24.6%
Fuel oil	0.9%
Wood	53.6%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	219	22.2%
Cohabiting couple	98	9.9%
Male householder, no spouse	214	21.7%
Female householder, no spouse	454	46.1%
Households with children under 18	366	37.2%
Households with seniors (65+)	260	26.4%
Average household size	3.96

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	62.1%	46.2%
Married	20.2%	22.3%
Separated	4.5%	0.7%
Widowed	5.9%	12.2%
Divorced	7.3%	18.5%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.6%

Some HS, no diploma 20.2%

HS graduate 34.6%

Some college, no degree 20.1%

Associate's degree 7.4%

Bachelor's degree 12.9%

Graduate / professional 2.1%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	77.1%
Bachelor's or higher	15.0%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	68	6.8%
Kindergarten	60	6.0%
Elementary school	403	40.2%
High school	310	30.9%
College / grad school	162	16.2%

Employment

Industry of employment

Arts, food & hospitality 38.5%

Education & healthcare 24.1%

Professional & management 8.7%

Public administration 6.2%

Construction 5.6%

Retail trade 5.6%

Other services 3.8%

Finance & real estate 3.3%

Agriculture & mining 2.2%

Information 0.9%

Transportation & utilities 0.8%

Manufacturing 0.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	32.4%
Service	43.4%
Sales & office	10.3%
Natural resources & construction	11.6%
Production & transportation	2.3%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	42.8%
Government	55.4%
Self-employed	1.8%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	78.2%
Carpool	12.9%
Public transit	2.7%
Walk	0.8%
Work from home	2.8%
Other means	2.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	20.4

Poverty

All people 29.9%

Under 18 years 39.3%

18 and over 26.3%

Married-couple families 19.6%

Female-led households 22.5%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	32.0%
Retirement income	16.5%
Supplemental Security	14.5%
Cash public assistance	6.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	46.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	39.8%
High blood pressure	31.0%
High cholesterol	27.2%
Diabetes	14.5%
Heart disease	6.8%
Stroke	4.5%
Asthma	14.4%
Arthritis	23.2%
Kidney disease	3.6%
Pulmonary disease	9.0%
Cancer	4.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	35.2%
Binge drinking	15.6%
No physical activity	28.9%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	42.1%
Depression	25.4%
Fair or poor health	23.7%
Poor mental health	22.1%
Poor physical health	16.1%
No health insurance	12.4%
Visited doctor (checkup)	65.5%
Visited dentist	45.7%
Cholesterol screening	80.2%
Teeth loss	31.1%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	106	3.7%

Disability	%
Any disability	23.1%
Under 18	10.9%
18–64 years	19.6%
65 and over	69.0%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	22.4%
Public insurance	65.7%
No insurance	19.8%
Uninsured under 19	11.7%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,693	93.0%
Spanish	162	4.4%
Other Indo-European	19	0.5%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	8	0.2%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,942	99.3%
Born in same state	3,922	98.8%
Born in different state	3,424	86.3%
Foreign born	20	0.5%
Naturalized citizen	27	0.7%
Not a US citizen	11	40.7%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	66	1.7%
Italian	12	0.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	8	0.2%
Dutch	2	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	24.8%
Internet access	74.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 88340

What city is ZIP code 88340 in?

ZIP code 88340 is primarily assigned to Mescalero, New Mexico.

What county is ZIP code 88340 in?

ZIP code 88340 falls within Otero County, New Mexico.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 88340?

30% of residents in ZIP code 88340 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 88340?

The median home value in ZIP code 88340 is $43,800.

What is the median household income in ZIP code 88340?

The median household income in ZIP code 88340 is $38,209, below the national median of ~$75,000.

What is the population of ZIP code 88340?

ZIP code 88340 has an estimated population of 3,969 residents, with a density of 6 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 88340 in?

ZIP code 88340 observes the MST timezone.