Lea County, New Mexico
14 ZIP codes · Avg score 69/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Lea County: 14 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.
How Lea County Compares
How Lea County Compares
Lea County scores 7 points above the New Mexico state average (62/100) and 1 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Lea County, New Mexico
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.4 (asthma 9.6%, diabetes 12%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,167, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.369% avg pipe failure probability, 38% of ZIPs at high risk
65.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Lea County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 18 violations. Past 5 years: 23 total (23 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,167
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
27,868 housing units in Lea County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Lea County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lea County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Lea County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Lea County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hobbs Municipal Water Supply | 40,418 | 156 |
| 2 | Rancho Dal Paso Llc Dba Adobe Village | 83 | 156 |
| 3 | Monarchy Country Estates | 52 | 156 |
| 4 | Monument Mdwca | 279 | 42 |
| 5 | Lovington Municipal Water Supply | 13,539 | 12 |
11 total water systems serve Lea County.
All ZIP Codes in Lea County
14 ZIP codes tracked in Lea County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88231 | Eunice | 83 | B | 0 | $152K |
| 2 | 88264 | Maljamar | 82 | B | 4 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 88260 | Lovington | 81 | B | 12 (2 health) | $174K |
| 4 | 88265 | Monument | 81 | B | 3 (2 health) | $266K |
| 5 | 88267 | Tatum | 78 | B | 10 | $104K |
| 6 | 88241 | Hobbs | 74 | B | 39 (3 health) | — |
| 7 | 88252 | Jal | 74 | B | 3 (1 health) | $105K |
| 8 | 88244 | Hobbs | 72 | B | 39 (3 health) | — |
| 9 | 88242 | Hobbs | 69 | C | 39 (3 health) | $219K |
| 10 | 88240 | Hobbs | 64 | C | 39 (3 health) | $177K |
| 11 | 88114 | Crossroads | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 12 | 88213 | Caprock | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 13 | 88254 | Lakewood | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 14 | 88262 | Mcdonald | 53 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lea County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 65.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lea County, New Mexico
Overview
Lea County in New Mexico covers 14 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (69/100).
9 of 14 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 18 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to New Mexico water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.