The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 88301 sells for about $165,000, or $128 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 92 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $850 a month.
ZIP 88301 — Carrizozo
The housing market in 88301 is characterized by low inventory and slow turnover, typical of a remote rural area. Prices have seen modest appreciation, but the market remains highly localized with very few closed sales per month. Demand is driven by affordability rather than economic growth, resulting in a stable but quiet market environment.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, remote workers seeking isolation, or individuals looking for affordable, rural living away from urban centers.
Median prices moved up 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 92 days on market with 7.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 6.2% · poverty 15.4% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 88301, Lincoln County NM
Crime rates in Carrizozo are generally low, consistent with small, rural high-desert communities in Lincoln County.
The area is served by the Carrizozo Municipal School District, which provides small-class-size education for the local rural population.
The region faces moderate wildfire risk due to surrounding dry brush and forest lands, typical of the Lincoln National Forest periphery.
Economic momentum is limited, primarily driven by local government, ranching, and tourism-related services for travelers passing through the region.
Property taxes are assessed by Lincoln and Torrance counties; the area is subject to standard New Mexico state property tax levies and local school district millage rates.
Commuting is primarily by private vehicle; the area is isolated, with significant drive times to major employment hubs like Alamogordo or Roswell.
The area offers access to high-desert hiking, proximity to the Lincoln National Forest, and historic sites like White Oaks.
The rental market is very thin with low turnover, primarily serving local workers and long-term residents rather than transient or investor-driven demand.
The economy is anchored by local government, agriculture, and small-scale tourism, with limited industrial or corporate presence.
Not applicable; the area relies entirely on highway access via US-54 and US-380.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in this ZIP.
Not applicable.
Parcels are subject to Carrizozo Municipal School District taxes and local county administrative levies.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by wildfire risk and the relative distance to emergency services.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 88301 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Local hub for community events and gatherings.
Provides extensive outdoor recreation and hiking opportunities nearby.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.