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Capitan, NM

Village in Lincoln County, New Mexico.

Population

1,191

Land area

3.3sq mi

People per sq mi

365

ZIP codes

0

Capitan and its ZIP codes

Full map

Capitan at a glance

  • Capitan is about 21 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
  • The median household income is $52,864, 17% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $111,700 (55% below New Mexico).

Local data for Capitan, NM

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Capitan, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$52,864

Poverty rate

14.4%

Median home value

$111,700

Homeownership

93.7%

Bachelor's or higher

20.3%

Median age

57.6

Average commute

28.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (427), German Americans (111), Scottish Americans (74).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lincoln County. PPP loans are for Capitan.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Aug 2026, +0.3 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$45,881

6,713 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$57,253

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$359M

FY 2026, $17,700 per person

Lincoln County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Capitan, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone89.2%
  • Carpooled5.9%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked1.4%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home3.6%

Average one-way commute: 28.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Capitan, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: wildfire

Storm events since 1996

709

Countywide, mostly high wind

Flood insurance policies

267

2.1% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

85° / 24°F

16.6 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Capitan, NM, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

27.9%

U.S. 33.3% -5.4 pts

Diabetes

11.7%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

11.1%

U.S. 12.8% -1.7 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.1%

U.S. 11.1% -2.0 pts

Cities near Capitan

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
NogalCensus-designated place6.1 mi7.6
RuidosoVillage6.5 mi16.1
Ruidoso DownsCity14 mi3.8
CarrizozoTown15 mi8.4
MescaleroCensus-designated place29 mi17.9

Frequently asked questions

What county is Capitan, NM in?
Capitan is in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Capitan, NM?
About 1,191 people live in Capitan, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Capitan?
Nearby places include Nogal (6.1 mi), Ruidoso (6.5 mi), Ruidoso Downs (14 mi), Carrizozo (15 mi), Mescalero (29 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023