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Lincoln County, NM
6 cities and towns and 15 ZIP codes in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Population
20,224
Land area
4,831sq mi
People per sq mi
4
ZIP codes
15
Cities and towns in Lincoln County
Lincoln County at a glance
- Lincoln County is 76% less dense than New Mexico as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $53,303 a year, 17% less than the New Mexico figure of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $233,200 (6% below New Mexico) and median rent is $956 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Ruidoso (7,699), Ruidoso Downs (2,655) and Capitan (1,191).
Local data for Lincoln County, NM
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lincoln County, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$53,303
Poverty rate
19.3%
Median home value
$233,200
Prices -1.5% in a year
Median rent
$956/mo
Homeownership
76.8%
Bachelor's or higher
32.2%
Median age
52.4
Average commute
20.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (5,678), German Americans (2,400), Irish Americans (1,973).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
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
PPP loans
$27.54M
605 loans, 4,707 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$189K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Lincoln County, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.0%
- Carpooled13.0%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.8%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.6%
- Worked from home11.1%
Average one-way commute: 20.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lincoln County, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
709
Most often 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 zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lincoln County, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
30.0%
U.S. 33.3% -3.3 pts
Diabetes
14.4%
U.S. 12.1% +2.3 pts
Smoking
12.6%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
12.4%
U.S. 11.1% +1.3 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Lincoln County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Lincoln County, NM?
- Ruidoso is the largest city or town in Lincoln County, with about 7,699 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Lincoln County?
- Lincoln County includes 15 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 88301, 88312, 88316, 88318, 88323.
- What is the population of Lincoln County, NM?
- About 20,224 people live in Lincoln County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Lincoln County?
- Lincoln County borders Otero County, Chaves County, Socorro County, Torrance County, Sierra County, Guadalupe County, De Baca County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023