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Ruidoso Downs, NM

City in Lincoln County, New Mexico.

Population

2,655

Land area

3.8sq mi

People per sq mi

701

ZIP codes

0

Ruidoso Downs and its ZIP codes

Full map

Ruidoso Downs at a glance

  • Ruidoso Downs is about 40 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
  • It is the 70th most populous of 495 cities and towns in New Mexico.
  • Households here earn a median of $31,354 a year, 51% less than the New Mexico figure of $64,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $154,000 (38% below New Mexico) and median rent is $936 a month.

Local data for Ruidoso Downs, NM

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Ruidoso Downs, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$31,354

Poverty rate

40.5%

Median home value

$154,000

Median rent

$936/mo

Homeownership

63.0%

Bachelor's or higher

21.5%

Median age

38.4

Average commute

12.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (1,347), Irish Americans (147), German Americans (125).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

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

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

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

  • Drove alone73.5%
  • Carpooled14.1%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.2%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other11.8%
  • Worked from home0.4%

Average one-way commute: 12.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Ruidoso Downs, 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

81° / 21°F

22.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Ruidoso Downs, NM, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.6%

U.S. 33.3% -0.7 pts

Diabetes

13.2%

U.S. 12.1% +1.1 pts

Smoking

13.9%

U.S. 12.8% +1.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

17.0%

U.S. 11.1% +5.9 pts

Cities near Ruidoso Downs

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
RuidosoVillage9.3 mi16.1
CapitanVillage14 mi3.3
NogalCensus-designated place16 mi7.6
MescaleroCensus-designated place17 mi17.9
BentCensus-designated place20 mi6.1
CarrizozoTown26 mi8.4
Twin ForksCensus-designated place27 mi4.1
CloudcroftVillage28 mi1.6

Frequently asked questions

What county is Ruidoso Downs, NM in?
Ruidoso Downs is in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Ruidoso Downs, NM?
About 2,655 people live in Ruidoso Downs, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Ruidoso Downs?
Nearby places include Ruidoso (9.3 mi), Capitan (14 mi), Nogal (16 mi), Mescalero (17 mi), Bent (20 mi).

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