ZIP code
88005
in Las Cruces, New MexicoPopulation 27,509
47.25/ 100
Ranked #19,862 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #162 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #9 of 23 Las Cruces, NM ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Lithium in drinking water
77 µg/L
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
18.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
21.3%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
56.9 days/year
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.2 mi
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68.3%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST50thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.1%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
267 units
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
57.7%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST46thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 88005, one of several in Las Cruces, New Mexico places in the bottom 38% nationally (19,862nd) and the top 48% of New Mexico (162nd).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 9.3% nationally. On the other side, lithium in drinking water stands in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled uninsured registers in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled arsenic settles in the top 5.9% nationally, modeled extreme heat sits in the top 7.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Modeled mammography rests in the bottom 8.3% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 8.7% nationally, and modeled colon screening is in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the top 9.7% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 88004, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Las Cruces, NM metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $54,452 predicts 77.7 years — 2.1 years above.
Ranked #859 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
88001
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 41.77
Closest healthier
88004
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 63.47
Similar health profile
87002
New Mexico95% similar profile
Score 45.06
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 27.5% | 24.7–30.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 33.0–40.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 19.3–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 32.2–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 31.5–42.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.3% | 11.9–17.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 18.2% | 16.1–20.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 72.6–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.9% | 68.2–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.5–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.7% | 52.9–62.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 55.9–62.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.3% | 61.0–74.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.8% | 11.4–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.6% | 24.9–32.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 27.6–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.2% | 24.4–30.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 34.0–41.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.8–9.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 20.9–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.7% | 21.1–26.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 18.1–23.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 29.2–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 50.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 37.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $54,452 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $220,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $890 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $917 ($549–$1,408) n=173 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.8 yr ± 0.79 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.5 yr (76.1–83.2) n=357 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.79 years of 79.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured