City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

Ruidoso, NM

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ruidoso - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,701
Residents
$50,259
Median income
$229,100
Median home
$999
Median rent (state)

Ruidoso - the verdict

Nationally, Ruidoso sits in the 20th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
51st
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ruidoso, NM

7,701 people live in Ruidoso, New Mexico - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Ruidoso brings in $50,259 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.2%. Ruidoso's housing stock carries a median value of $229,100, and the median resident age is 44.4 years. About 30.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 89 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 39% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 50.1°F with 22.0 inches of precipitation per year and 26.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Mexico scores 92.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $999 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $167 across New Mexico, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.5 out of 100 (High).

Population

7,701 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$50,259 /yr

Poverty 10.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does Ruidoso compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ruidoso stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 51% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ruidoso's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Mexico, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ruidoso's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$229,100 49th percentile more affordable than 49% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ruidoso $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ruidoso, NM Ruidoso, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ruidoso, NM-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ruidoso, NM median $50,259/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ruidoso, NM's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ruidoso, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,701
Median Income
$50,259
Median Home Value
$229,100
Median Age
44.4
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.1°F
Annual Precipitation
22.0"
Annual Snowfall
26.2"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,500 residents7,600 residents7,700 residents7,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,699 residents 7,580 residents ▼ -1.5%
Ruidoso's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
89
housing units authorized
Single-Family
85
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 64
2020 61
2021 88
2022 73
2023 79
2024 89

Permit volume increased 39% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.6%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
14.0%
Other
2.0%

Based on 3,538 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Mexico - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$167
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Mexico state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Mexico state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ruidoso sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$999/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Belen
7,427 people
Bloomfield
7,391 people
Shiprock
8,339 people
Socorro
8,540 people
Corrales
8,557 people
Anthony
8,701 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ruidoso's 7,701 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Brigantine, NJ
7,702 people
Geneseo, NY
7,700 people
Colonie, NY
7,705 people
Hudsonville, MI
7,711 people
Dunellen, NJ
7,711 people
St. Johns, MI
7,712 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ruidoso's $50,259 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

New Miami, OH
$50,259 median income
Valley Forge, TN
$50,259 median income
Dixon, MO
$50,260 median income
Farmingdale, ME
$50,263 median income
Hurt, VA
$50,263 median income
Bedford, IN
$50,253 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ruidoso, NM Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ruidoso, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.4% 14.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 28.3% White 77.4% Black or African American 1.7% Asian 1.1% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.2% Two or more races 14.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ruidoso compares to nearby New Mexico cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ruidoso (this city) 7,701 $50,259
Belen 7,427 $40,354
Bloomfield 7,391 $51,212
Shiprock 8,339 $41,563
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ruidoso, NM?

What is the population of Ruidoso, NM? +

Ruidoso, NM counts 7,701 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ruidoso, NM? +

Median annual household income in Ruidoso runs $50,259, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ruidoso? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ruidoso; the closest available measure is the New Mexico state average, a cost of living index of 92.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Mexico vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Ruidoso, NM? +

Homes in Ruidoso carry a median value of $229,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ruidoso? +

Ruidoso has an average annual temperature of 50.1°F, 22.0 inches of precipitation, and 26.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.