CensusEasy
CITY

Ruidoso Downs

New Mexico · 2,588 residents (2025 est.) · 3.79 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Ruidoso micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Ruidoso Downs has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,354. Population has grown 46% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $154,000. The poverty rate of 40.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 51% less than the New Mexico median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,655
+46%since 2000
from 1,824 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
701 / sq mi
+46%since 2000
from 481 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
+9%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,588 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7311K2K2K3K1990201020202024Ruidoso Downs
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,354
−41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,375 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,874
+47%since 2000
from $12,144 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
14.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
40.5%
+20.0 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+24%since 2010
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade16.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information6.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,000
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$936
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.0%
−7.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
37.0% rent
Vacancy rate
18.3%
−10.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.5%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
64.2%
+33.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.9
+146%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
30
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ruidoso Downs on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic51.4%(937)
Black0.5%(9)
Hispanic / Latino43.7%(797)
Asian0.7%(13)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.6%(1,161)
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.3%(1,097)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino51.6%(1,369)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other6.9%(182)
Diversity Score69.8%(1,854)
Diversity Score
70
+10%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.5%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.3%
+21.4 ptssince 2000
from 73.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.2%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.8 min
+16%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
0.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.8%
−16.5 ptssince 2011
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
2.8%
−14.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.8%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.4%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
56.6%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
7.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
16.4%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2012
from 20.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−67.0 ptssince 2013
from 73.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.7%
+41.9 ptssince 2017
from 38.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
75.2%
+11.1 ptssince 2016
from 64.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
23.4%
−12.5 ptssince 2016
from 35.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Ruidoso Downs

Dade City North
Pop 2,803
Madison
Pop 2,988
Eatonville
Pop 2,333
Goulding
Pop 3,734
Places similar to Ruidoso Downs
Head to head

Compare Ruidoso Downs to nearby cities

RUIDOSO DOWNS VS
Alamogordo
Income$55,952+78%
Home value$172,900+12%
Population31,906+1133%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO DOWNS VS
Roswell
Income$51,583+65%
Home value$152,600−1%
Population46,878+1711%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO DOWNS VS
Artesia
Income$74,915+139%
Home value$229,400+49%
Population12,735+392%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO DOWNS VS
Socorro
Income$39,375+26%
Home value$152,900−1%
Population8,261+219%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico?

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico has about 2,655 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico?

The typical household in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico earns about $31,354 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico expensive?

In Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $154,000, and the typical rent is about $936 a month.

How educated are people in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico?

About 21.5% of adults age 25 and over in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico?

About 40.5% of people in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,735 residents, a change of about 189 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
New Mexico
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Ruidoso Downs with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →