United States › New Mexico › Ruidoso Downs CITY
Ruidoso Downs New Mexico · 2,588 residents (2025 est.) · 3.79 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 2,655 people, Ruidoso Downs is a city in New Mexico. The poverty rate is 40.5%, above the 12.5% national rate. That trails the New Mexico median by roughly 51%. 831 more people live here than in 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Households take in $31,354 at the median, 62% less than the US figure.
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 from 1,824 in 2000
2,588 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 718 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
731 1K 2K 2K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ruidoso Downs Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $31,354
−41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,375 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,144 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 2.8%
Education & health services 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
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$154,000
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$936
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 70.9% in 2000
37.0% rent
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.19 people
−23%since 2009
from 2.83 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 51.4%(937)
Hispanic / Latino 43.7%(797)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 41.3%(1,097)
Hispanic / Latino 51.6%(1,369)
from 69 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 73.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 78.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 20.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 38.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 64.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 35.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 30.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 47.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 24.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 72.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 2.5%(8)
Share of the 315 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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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.
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