Ruidoso
Village in Lincoln County, New Mexico
Ruidoso is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, with 7,679 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 6,729 ft (2,051 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Ruidoso Downs, 4.3 miles E.
- 7,679residents (2020 Census)
- 6,729 ftelevation · 2,051 m
- 16.1 sq miland area · 41.8 km²
- 476 / sq mipopulation density
- 88345main ZIP code (2 in total)
About Ruidoso
Ruidoso (Spanish for "noisy") is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, adjacent to the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 7,679 at the 2020 census. The city of Ruidoso Downs and the unincorporated area of Alto are suburbs of Ruidoso, and contribute to the Ruidoso Micropolitan Statistical Area's population of 21,223.
A mountain resort town, Ruidoso lies in the Sierra Blanca mountain range of south-central New Mexico, where it merges with the Sacramento Mountains to the south. Ruidoso is a resort community close to the slopes of Ski Apache, the Mescalero Apache Tribe-owned ski resort on Sierra Blanca, an almost 12,000-foot (3,700 m) mountain. The tribe also operates the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort in the area, which includes a casino, hotel, arcade room and golf course. Ruidoso is the largest community in Lincoln County, and serves as the regional economic hub.
In recent years the village is contending with serious questions about the adequacy of the local water supply and zoning enforcement. As in many small communities that have been recently "discovered", there is an ongoing debate about how best to plan for additional growth.
The village received its name from the Rio Ruidoso (Spanish for "Noisy River"), a small stream that weaves through the city.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ruidoso weather: 7-day forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast…
Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).
Live webcams in Ruidoso
Webcams: Windy.com
Living in Ruidoso
- Median household income
- $52,736
- Median home value
- $243,800
- Median rent
- $944/mo
- Median age
- 44.8
Do you know Ruidoso? Tell us about it
Help other travelers: share what makes Ruidoso special. We review every message before publishing it.
Map of Ruidoso
Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Ruidoso Street View
Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.
Open in Google Maps ›Ruidoso, NM population
Ruidoso had 7,679 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 7,679 |
|---|---|
| Density | 476 per sq mi (184 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Ruidoso at a glance
| State | New Mexico (NM) |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Type | Village |
| Population | 7,679 (2020) |
| Land area | 16.13 sq mi (41.8 km²) |
| Water area | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km²) |
| Elevation | 6,729 ft (2,051 m) |
| Coordinates | 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W |
| ZIP codes | 88345, 88355 |
| Official website | ruidosonow.com |
| Census code (GEOID) | 3565210 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Ruidoso
- Ruidoso Downs4.3 mi E
- Nogal13.3 mi N
- Capitan13.7 mi N
- Mescalero16.7 mi SW
- Bent18.5 mi SW
- Carrizozo22.6 mi NW
- Tularosa27.7 mi SW
- Cloudcroft27.7 mi S
- Twin Forks28.4 mi S
- High Rolls29.8 mi S
- La Luz30.5 mi SW
- Mayhill33.1 mi S
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Ruidoso
What county is Ruidoso in?
Ruidoso is in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
What is the population of Ruidoso, NM?
7,679 people lived in Ruidoso at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Ruidoso, NM?
The main ZIP code is 88345. Other ZIP codes: 88355.
What is the elevation of Ruidoso?
6,729 feet (2,051 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Ruidoso?
Ruidoso Downs (4.3 mi), Nogal (13.3 mi), Capitan (13.7 mi), Mescalero (16.7 mi), Bent (18.5 mi).
Last updated: