ZIP Code 88012: Population, Income, Housing

State: NM

Total population: 33,158 Household income: $69,052 Rent: $1,325

Overview

Total population

33,158

Rent

$1,325

Year built

2005

Household income

$69,052

Per capita income

$32,705

Poverty rate

14.5%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

39.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New Mexico

County

Doña Ana County

City

Las Cruces

Total population

33,158

Adults over 25

20,548

Total households

12,061

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$69,052

Per capita income

$32,705

Poverty rate

14.5%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

39.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,325

Year built

2005

Households that rent

23.8%

Households that own

76.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

47.4%

Black

Asian

Two or more races

28.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

61.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

38.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

13,119 (88%)

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

1,787 (12%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

30%

High school graduate or GED

21.6%

Some college or associate degree

13.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

35%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 88012 with: Doña Ana County, NM New Mexico United States

ZIP 88012

Total population33,158

Rent$1,325

Year built2005

Household income$69,052

Per capita income$32,705

Poverty rate14.5%

Unemployment rateN/A

Doña Ana County, NM

Total population224,266

Rent$934

Year built1991

Household income$56,848

Per capita income$29,907

Poverty rate21.3%

Unemployment rate4.5%

New Mexico State

Total population2,120,246

Rent$1,067

Year built1985

Household income$64,059

Per capita income$36,218

Poverty rate17.8%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP88012	CountyDoña Ana, NM	StateNew Mexico	CountryUnited States
Total population	33,158	224,266	2,120,246	334,922,499
Rent	$1,325	$934	$1,067	$1,413
Year built	2005	1991	1985	1980
Household income	$69,052	$56,848	$64,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,705	$29,907	$36,218	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.5%	21.3%	17.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.5%	4.2%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 88012

Rent & Income

In 88012, the typical monthly rent is $1,325 and the typical household income is $69,052. Rent here is higher than New Mexico, and household income is higher than New Mexico. The estimated poverty rate is 14.5%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 23.8% of households. Around 39.6% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 35% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 88012 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 88012 — Poverty

How ZIP 88012 compares in New Mexico (24 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,325	17 / 24	from lower rent	$806 – $1,688
Household income	$69,052	11 / 24	from higher income	$33,087 – $94,550
Poverty rate	14.5%	12 / 24	from lower poverty	7.5% – 34.4%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in New Mexico with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 88012

Rent

Looking at rent levels, ZIP Code 88012 places 17th out of 24 ZIP Codes in New Mexico. Throughout New Mexico, numbers span from $806 in ZIP 88001 up to $1,688 in ZIP 87144.

Household income

In terms of earnings, this ZIP comes 11th out of 24 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from $33,087 in ZIP 88001 up to $94,550 in ZIP 87144.

Poverty rate

In terms of poverty rate, ZIP Code 88012 comes 12th out of 24 ZIP Codes. In New Mexico as a whole, the range goes from 7.5% in ZIP 87124 up to 34.4% in ZIP 88001.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 88012 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,325 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 88012

Annual Household Income: $69,052

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 88012

Estimated Rate: 14.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 88012

In ZIP Code 88012, households that rent: 2,870 (23.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	2,870	23.8%
Owner-Occupied	9,191	76.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 88012

In ZIP Code 88012, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,136 (39.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	1,136	39.6%
Other renter households	1,734	60.4%
Total renter households	2,870	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 88012

Less than High School: 6,168 people (30%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 4,445 people (21.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,750 people (13.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 7,185 people (35%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 20,548

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.