Lincoln County, New Mexico
18 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Spanning 18 ZIP codes, Lincoln County lands near the national median for water safety — compliance results are mixed, and the county's middle-grade standing reflects genuine variability rather than a single systemic problem.
How Lincoln County Compares
How Lincoln County Compares
Lincoln County scores 4 points above the New Mexico state average (62/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Lincoln 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: 14.1 (asthma 9.7%, diabetes 14.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,875, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.381% avg pipe failure probability, 35% of ZIPs at high risk
61.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Lincoln County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 25 total (25 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: $1,875
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
19,070 housing units in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Stanton Historic Site | 102 | 25 |
| 2 | Carrizozo Water System | 1,758 | 23 |
| 3 | Alto Lakes Water and Sanitation District | 2,870 | 17 |
| 4 | Cds Rainmakers Util Llc Rancho Ruidoso | 839 | 17 |
| 5 | RUIDOSO DOWNS WATER SYSTEM | 2,146 | 17 |
18 total water systems serve Lincoln County.
All ZIP Codes in Lincoln County
18 ZIP codes tracked in Lincoln County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88323 | Fort Stanton | 82 | B | 11 (1 health) | — |
| 2 | 88312 | Alto | 79 | B | 11 (1 health) | $339K |
| 3 | 88346 | Ruidoso Downs | 78 | B | 1 | — |
| 4 | 88355 | Ruidoso | 78 | B | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 5 | 88318 | Corona | 77 | B | 3 (2 health) | — |
| 6 | 88338 | Lincoln | 77 | B | 14 (2 health) | — |
| 7 | 88316 | Capitan | 74 | B | 9 | $165K |
| 8 | 88301 | Carrizozo | 73 | B | 23 (2 health) | $85K |
| 9 | 88324 | Glencoe | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 10 | 88345 | Ruidoso | 63 | C | 5 (2 health) | $232K |
| 11 | 88348 | San Patricio | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 12 | 88341 | Nogal | 56 | C | 9 (1 health) | $240K |
| 13 | 87009 | Cedarvale | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 14 | 87011 | Claunch | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 15 | 88336 | Hondo | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 16 | 88340 | Mescalero | 53 | D | 0 | $54K |
| 17 | 88343 | Picacho | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 18 | 88351 | Tinnie | 53 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lincoln County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 61.8% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lincoln County, New Mexico
Overview
Lincoln County in New Mexico covers 18 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
10 of 18 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 13 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.