The Town Files

Lincoln County, New Mexico

20,224 people. The median home is worth $233,200 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $53,303.

Towns in Lincoln County

Towns in Lincoln County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Ruidoso7,679$243,800$52,73644.8
Ruidoso Downs2,620$154,000$31,35438.4

People and housing

Lincoln CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$233,200$187,400
Median rent$956$916
Median household income$53,303$55,614
Median age52.439.9
Bachelor's degree or higher32.2%18.7%
Below the poverty line19.3%18.0%

Jobs and pay

6,782 jobs in 2024, average pay $43,202 a year.

Largest industries in Lincoln CountyHotels & restaurants1,299 jobs · $25,765Retail1,223 jobs · $32,782Arts & recreation532 jobs · $32,641Construction358 jobs · $41,721Administrative & support234 jobs · $43,061Other services209 jobs · $34,492
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lincoln County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 709 storm events in Lincoln County from 1996 to 2026, with 11 deaths.

Storm events in Lincoln County by type since 1996Hail123Drought156Tornado14Wildfire14High Wind162Heavy Rain7Heavy Snow29Debris Flow14Flash Flood123Funnel Cloud8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lincoln County has been included in 35 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 22, 2025FloodDR-4886: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides
July 10, 2025FloodEM-3628: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides
June 20, 2024FireDR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding
June 18, 2024FireFM-5498: Salt Fire
June 17, 2024FireFM-5497: South Fork Fire
May 26, 2024FireFM-5492: Blue 2 Fire
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).