CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Ruidoso Micro

Ruidoso, NM · 1 counties · 12,219 residents · 4,831.115 sq mi
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The short version

Ruidoso has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,489. Population has fallen 37% since 2000, a loss of 7,192 residents. Median home value is $68,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,219
−37%vs 2000
vs 19,411 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−37%vs 2000
vs 4 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
37.4
−15%vs 2000
vs 43.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K14K17K19K22K1990201020202024Ruidoso
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.5%(799)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.5%(913)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.4%(903)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.4%(777)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 244.1%(506)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.4%(1,754)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.3%(1,865)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.6%(1,418)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6411.1%(1,354)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.9%(1,213)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.7%(572)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(145)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,489
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $33,886 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,701
−45%vs 2000
vs $19,338 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
20.1%
+5.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 14.9% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$68,200
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $90,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$348
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $468 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
72.4%
−4.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.2% in 2000
27.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ruidoso on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.9%(13,763)
Black0.2%(47)
Hispanic / Latino25.6%(4,975)
Asian0.2%(48)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(11,149)
Black0.7%(88)
Hispanic / Latino27.6%(3,378)
Asian0.1%(12)
Other7.9%(970)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican28.1%(5,678)
Spaniard0.7%(149)
Puerto Rican0.2%(41)
Colombian0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(51)
Japanese0.2%(49)
Korean0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American14.2%(2,862)
English13.4%(2,707)
German11.9%(2,400)
Irish9.8%(1,973)
Scottish3.1%(624)
French1.8%(368)
Italian1.4%(278)
Welsh1.3%(253)
Austrian1.1%(219)
British1%(211)
Norwegian0.9%(179)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(155)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.5%(109)
Swedish0.5%(103)
Dutch0.5%(99)
Czech0.4%(85)
Hungarian0.4%(73)
Russian0.3%(58)
Greek0.3%(57)
Arab0.2%(35)
West Indian0.1%(28)
Portuguese0.1%(21)
Egyptian0.1%(19)
Slovene0.1%(19)
Finnish0.1%(14)
Danish0.1%(11)
Swiss0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
−6.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 22.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
77.1%
−7.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 84.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.1%
−4.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+34%vs 2000
vs 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married24.2%(2,046)
Married57.9%(4,905)
Widowed4.8%(408)
Divorced13.1%(1,113)
Women 15+
Never married18.5%(1,669)
Married53.4%(4,825)
Widowed14.2%(1,285)
Divorced13.8%(1,249)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

RuidosoCENTRAL7,580Ruidoso Downs2,588Capitan1,402Carrizozo959Corona128Nogal80
What's inside

1 component county

Lincoln CountyCENTRAL19,844
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ruidoso

Raymondville
Pop 19,971
Arkadelphia
Pop 20,938
Elk City
Pop 22,159
Magnolia
Pop 21,894
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Head to head

Compare Ruidoso side by side

RUIDOSO VS
Raymondville
Income$54,180+178%
Home value$73,600+8%
Population19,971+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO VS
Arkadelphia
Income$52,034+167%
Home value$155,000+127%
Population20,938+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO VS
Elk City
Income$53,328+174%
Home value$143,500+110%
Population22,159+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUIDOSO VS
Magnolia
Income$55,334+184%
Home value$152,100+123%
Population21,894+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruidoso, NM?

Ruidoso, NM has about 12,219 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Ruidoso, NM?

The typical household in Ruidoso, NM earns about $19,489 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ruidoso, NM expensive?

In Ruidoso, NM, the median home is worth about $68,200, and the typical rent is about $348 a month.

How educated are people in Ruidoso, NM?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Ruidoso, NM hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ruidoso, NM?

About 20.1% of people in Ruidoso, NM live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →