Ruidoso Downs, NM

Full City Profile · New Mexico · Lincoln County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
2,629 Population 694/sq mi density
$31,413 Median Income $15,430 per capita
$55,400 Home Value $222,792 Zillow
$826 Median Rent 49.1% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.3 / 5.0
$31,413 median income, 5.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$55,400 home value, $826/mo rent
D
Education
1.8 / 5.0
10.5% bachelor's degree or higher

Ruidoso Downs, NM

At a Glance

Median Income
$31,413
58% below
$15,430 per capita
Home Value
$55,400
80% below
Zillow: $222,792
Median Rent
$826/mo
29% below
49.1% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
10.5%
69% below
84.7% high school+
Unemployment
5.8%
61% above
20.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.4%
1% above
14.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F

How Ruidoso Downs Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Ruidoso Downs's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
42%
Home Value
20%
Rent
71%
Poverty
167%
Bachelor's
31%
Unemployment
161%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Ruidoso Downs a Good Place to Live?

B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Ruidoso Downs residents earn a median household income of $31,413 , which is 58% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $15,430. The unemployment rate stands at 5.8% (61% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 20.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 888 business establishments, including 106 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Ruidoso Downs is $55,400 , 80% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $222,792. Median rent is $826/month, with 49.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1983.

Education

10.5% of adults in Ruidoso Downs hold a bachelor's degree or higher (69% below the national average). 84.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Ruidoso Downs has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 22.0 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population2,629
Median Age35.3 yrs
Density694/mi²
Male / Female46% / 54%
Foreign Born18.2%
Veterans10.0%

Economy

C
Median Income$31,413
Per Capita$15,430
Unemployment5.8%
Poverty20.7%
County GDP$894M
Avg Weekly Wage$831

Housing

A+
Home Value$55,400
Rent$826
Ownership69.9%
Zillow$222,792
Housing Units1,241
Rent Burden49.1%

Health

Obesity32.4%
Diabetes11.5%
Smoking14.0%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death12,621/100K

Climate

Avg Temp50°F
Rain22.0 in/yr
Elevation6,440 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+10.5%
High School+84.7%
Graduate+8.2%
School Score4.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 68% / D 30%
Commute21 min
Broadband78.2%
Internet Speed50 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Ruidoso Downs was built in 1983.
The nearest airport is Sierra Blanca Regional (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.488 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
24.0% of the population has a disability.
18.2% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 106 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.
455 declared natural disasters on record.