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Ruidoso, NM

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Ruidoso, NM

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 51
Population7,701
Foreign Born2.0%
Population Density477people per mi²
Median Age44.4 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

80/100

20% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Ruidoso, New Mexico

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $45k$65k
Luxury $87k+$136k+
Elite (Top 5%) $103k+$159k+
Affordability Ratio

77%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
24
Positive
19
Poor
2
Negative
1

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

3mi

Airport

Sierra Blanca Regional Airport

12.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Ruidoso, NM

1.9mi

Critical Amenities

Golf2Nearest 0.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 14.6 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range1Nearest 7.6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$50k+39.5%
33% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$270k
59% below US avg
College Educated
30.9%
12% below US avg
WFH
14.0%
2% below US avg
Homeownership
69.6%
6% above US avg
Median Home
$229k
19% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A+
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 99% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
0.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−14.9%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−17.7%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−12.0%
Burglary
0.53 / 1k Residents86% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
0.39 / 1k Residents97% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+7Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Ruidoso, New Mexico
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C
Weak10.2% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (250% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season187 days265 frost-free
Annual Rainfall23.2"
Elevation6,785 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B+
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great118 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
B-
Fair477/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Great4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D-
PoorWildfire
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 118 mi · coast 284 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$27.8M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T07:04:39.000Z

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