Ruidoso Downs, NM Demographics

A map of Ruidoso Downs's Population by Race

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico has an estimated population of 2,655, a slight increase from the 2,620 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 51.6% Hispanic, 41.3% White, 3.9% Native American/Other, 2.9% Multiracial, 0.2% Asian, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ruidoso Downs, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ruidoso Downs is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New Mexico overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ruidoso Downs, that probability was 56.3% in 2020 and 56.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ruidoso Downs is ranked the 70th most populous place in New Mexico, out of 528 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Ruidoso Downs was ranked the 72nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Ruidoso Downs's White Population

1,097 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 41.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ruidoso Downs is higher than in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. Ruidoso Downs ranks 250th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's White population has grown by an estimated 15.2%. White residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has increased from 36.3% to 41.3%.

Ruidoso Downs is more White than neighboring Mescalero (6.5% White), and Bent (0% White). Ruidoso Downs is less White than neighboring Ruidoso (64.3% White), Capitan (59.4% White), and Nogal (100% White).

Ruidoso Downs's Black Population

1 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ruidoso Downs is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Ruidoso Downs ranks 197th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's Black population has declined by an estimated 90.9%. Black residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Ruidoso Downs is less Black than neighboring Ruidoso (1.9% Black).

Ruidoso Downs's Asian Population

6 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ruidoso Downs is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Ruidoso Downs ranks 155th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's Asian population has declined by an estimated 57.1%. Asian residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Ruidoso Downs is more Asian than neighboring Capitan (0% Asian), Nogal (0% Asian), Mescalero (0% Asian), and Bent (0% Asian). Ruidoso Downs is less Asian than neighboring Ruidoso (0.6% Asian).

Ruidoso Downs's Hispanic Population

1,369 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 51.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ruidoso Downs is slightly higher than in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. Ruidoso Downs ranks 199th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 4.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has decreased from 55.0% to 51.6%.

Ruidoso Downs is more Hispanic than neighboring Ruidoso (29.2% Hispanic), Capitan (37.8% Hispanic), Nogal (0% Hispanic), and Mescalero (6.5% Hispanic). Ruidoso Downs is less Hispanic than neighboring Bent (100% Hispanic).

Ruidoso Downs's Native American/Other Population

104 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 3.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ruidoso Downs is lower than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. Ruidoso Downs ranks 152nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 23.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has decreased from 5.2% to 3.9%.

Ruidoso Downs is more Native American/Other than neighboring Ruidoso (1.8% Native American/Other), Capitan (0.5% Native American/Other), Nogal (0% Native American/Other), and Bent (0% Native American/Other). Ruidoso Downs is less Native American/Other than neighboring Mescalero (85.2% Native American/Other).

Ruidoso Downs's Multiracial Population

78 residents of Ruidoso Downs, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ruidoso Downs is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. Ruidoso Downs ranks 233rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso Downs's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 14.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Ruidoso Downs's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.

Ruidoso Downs is more Multiracial than neighboring Ruidoso (2.3% Multiracial), Capitan (2.4% Multiracial), Nogal (0% Multiracial), Mescalero (1.8% Multiracial), and Bent (0% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.