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City · 7,699 residents · Lincoln County, New Mexico

Ruidoso , New Mexico

In Ruidoso, a typical home is worth $243,800 and typical rent is $944 a month. Compared with all of Lincoln County, the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $243,800

    5% above the county

    About the same as New Mexico

    • Ruidoso
    • Lincoln
    • New Mexico

  • Typical rent

    $944a month

    About the same as the county

    12% below New Mexico

    • Ruidoso
    • Lincoln
    • New Mexico

  • Typical household income

    $52,736a year

    About the same as the county

    18% below New Mexico

    • Ruidoso
    • Lincoln
    • New Mexico

  • Households that own their home

    68%

    8 points below the county

    2 points below New Mexico

    • Ruidoso
    • Lincoln
    • New Mexico

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$320,901
4% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Ruidoso is in Lincoln County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lincoln County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Ruidoso apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Truth or Consequences, the typical home value is $124,600: 49% less than in Ruidoso ($243,800).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Ruidoso fell 4%; in New Mexico, it rose 1.7%.

  3. Nearby, in Socorro, the typical rent is $711: 25% less than in Ruidoso ($944).

  4. 68% of households in Ruidoso own their home, against 77% in Lincoln County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Ruidoso

What homes there are in Ruidoso, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 69% of homes here, against 64% in Lincoln County.

Year built

The typical home in Ruidoso was built in 1981, 4 years before the typical one in Lincoln County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 84% of owner-occupied homes in Ruidoso are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Lincoln County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,587 a month

Lincoln County: $1,481 a month

Without a mortgage

$487 a month

Lincoln County: $487 a month

Owners with a mortgage

41%

Lincoln County: 37%

Owning costs more in Ruidoso: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,587 a month; in Lincoln County, $1,481. Without one, $487.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Ruidoso rose 35%; in Lincoln County, it rose 20%.

The typical rent in Ruidoso stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRuidosoLincoln CountyNew MexicoUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate15.5%5.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3.3%3.4%
People per household 1.952.012.482.53
Drive alone 76%71%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate13%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 13%11%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Lincoln County, a household in Ruidoso has 1.95 people on average.

To get to work, 76% of workers in Ruidoso drive alone; in Lincoln County, 71%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Ruidoso?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Ruidoso, worth $243,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Ruidoso, which is $52,736 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $84,135 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lincoln County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Ruidoso. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,533 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,963

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$239,384
Total interest
$344,418
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,117 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,231 a month

  • Tight

    $1,231 to $1,582 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,582 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Ruidoso ($52,736 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,963
Principal & interest$1,622
Property tax$132
Home insurance$102
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$108

You need at least $8,533 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Ruidoso and Lincoln County

Ruidoso is in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Ruidoso's own numbers

Typical home value
$243,800
Typical monthly rent
$944
Typical yearly household income
$52,736
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
0.65%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lincoln County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,063
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lincoln County.

Everything about Lincoln County

Buying

Buying a home in Ruidoso

A typical home in Ruidoso is worth $243,800: 5% above the county and about the same as New Mexico. With the typical household income in Ruidoso ($52,736 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Ruidoso 4.6 years
  • Lincoln 4.4 years
  • New Mexico 3.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lincoln County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lincoln County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lincoln County.

Period County New Mexico U.S.
Last year (2025) −1.5% +3.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +82% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Ruidoso next to Lincoln County, New Mexico and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Ruidoso $243,800
  • Lincoln $233,200
  • New Mexico $248,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Ruidoso $944
  • Lincoln $956
  • New Mexico $1,067
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Ruidoso $52,736
  • Lincoln $53,303
  • New Mexico $64,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Ruidoso next to Lincoln County and New Mexico
Measure Ruidoso Lincoln County New Mexico U.S.
Typical home value $243,800 $233,200 $248,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $944 $956 $1,067 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,736 $53,303 $64,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 68% 77% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,579 $1,246 $1,731 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.65% 0.53% 0.7% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lincoln County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Ruidoso

For a typical $243,800 home in Ruidoso, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Ruidoso's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,963a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,533
    Cash to close
    $15,847
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $108

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,918a month

    Down payment
    $12,190
    Cash to close
    $19,504
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $116

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,555a month

    Down payment
    $48,760
    Cash to close
    $56,074
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,780a month

    Down payment
    $36,570
    Cash to close
    $43,884
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Ruidoso and for Lincoln County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Ruidoso

0.65%of the home’s value each year

$1,579 a year for the typical owner in Ruidoso.

  • Ruidoso 0.65%
  • Lincoln 0.53%
  • New Mexico 0.7%

What New Mexico publishes 3 percent cap on the yearly increase in your home's taxable value (New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee ("Property Taxes in New Mexico" brief))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Mexico

Flood risk in Lincoln County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lincoln County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3%
377
Of those, with NFIP insurance
41%
County New Mexico U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3% 5.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 41% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Ruidoso

Typical rent in Ruidoso is $944 a month: about the same as the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lincoln County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,063 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lincoln County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $834 $16.04 $33,360
1 bedroom $839 $16.13 $33,560
2 bedrooms $1,063 $20.44 $42,520
3 bedrooms $1,355 $26.06 $54,200
4 bedrooms $1,667 $32.06 $66,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Ruidoso

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Ruidoso has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 88312 to $1,070 in 88355.

2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Lincoln County ($1,063).

  • 88312 $1,060$1,350
  • 88345 $1,070$1,360
  • 88355 $1,070$1,360

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Ruidoso when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Ruidoso

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Ruidoso.

  • La Tierra Apt Homes 107 Jack Little Dr, Ruidoso 88345 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 15 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 1999

See all 3 buildings in Lincoln County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Ruidoso

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lincoln County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Ruidoso

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Ruidoso or Lincoln County. The ones below are statewide in New Mexico: they work in Ruidoso the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Mexico

  • FirstDown

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed-rate second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers, together with the FirstHome mortgage. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • HomeNow

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed $7,000 second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of low-income first-time buyers; no monthly payments and forgivable after 10 years. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • FirstDown Plus

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed $10,000 third loan at 0%, for the down payment only, added to FirstDown or HomeNow; repaid in monthly installments over 15 years. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Ruidoso

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Ruidoso, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Tierra del Sol Housing

    210 E Idaho Ave, Las Cruces · 97 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (575) 541-0477

  • Tiwa Lending Services

    117A Tribal Road 40, Isleta · 123 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (505) 916-0556

  • United South Broadway Corporation

    1500 Walter St SE, Albuquerque · 131 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    (505) 764-8867

All counseling agencies in New Mexico

Help in Spanish near Ruidoso

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Ruidoso

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Lincoln County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in New Mexico Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Ruidoso, with the typical home value.

Everything about Lincoln County Housing in New Mexico

Neighboring counties

If Lincoln County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Ruidoso.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Ruidoso

Short answers with the numbers for Ruidoso and all of Lincoln County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Ruidoso?

The typical home value in Ruidoso is $243,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lincoln County it is $233,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Ruidoso?

Typical rent in Ruidoso is $944 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lincoln County is $1,063.

What is the FHA loan limit in Ruidoso?

Ruidoso uses the FHA limit for all of Lincoln County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Ruidoso?

The typical homeowner in Ruidoso pays $1,579 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.65% of the home’s value; in Lincoln County, the rate is 0.53%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Ruidoso?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lincoln County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).