Ruidoso, NM Demographics

A map of Ruidoso's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,949	4,712	64.3%	61.4%
Hispanic	2,248	2,322	29.2%	30.2%
Multiracial	175	263	2.3%	3.4%
Black	145	30	1.9%	0.4%
Native American/Other	136	271	1.8%	3.5%
Asian	46	81	0.6%	1.1%

Ruidoso, New Mexico has an estimated population of 7,699, a less than 1% change from the 7,679 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 64.3% White, 29.2% Hispanic, 2.3% Multiracial, 1.9% Black, 1.8% Native American/Other, and 0.6% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ruidoso, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ruidoso has become less racially diverse since 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, that probability was 52.9% in 2020 and 50.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ruidoso is ranked the 30th 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 was ranked the 31st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Ruidoso's White Population

4,949 residents of Ruidoso, or 64.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ruidoso is significantly higher than in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. Ruidoso ranks 132nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's White population has grown by an estimated 5.0%. White residents' share of Ruidoso's population has increased from 61.4% to 64.3%.

Ruidoso is more White than neighboring Ruidoso Downs (41.3% White), Capitan (59.4% White), Mescalero (6.5% White), and Bent (0% White). Ruidoso is less White than neighboring Nogal (100% White).

Ruidoso's Black Population

145 residents of Ruidoso, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ruidoso is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Ruidoso ranks 211th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's Black population has grown by an estimated 383.3%. Black residents' share of Ruidoso's population has increased from 0.4% to 1.9%.

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

Ruidoso's Asian Population

46 residents of Ruidoso, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ruidoso is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Ruidoso ranks 87th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's Asian population has declined by an estimated 43.2%. Asian residents' share of Ruidoso's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.6%.

Ruidoso is more Asian than neighboring Ruidoso Downs (0.2% Asian), Capitan (0% Asian), Nogal (0% Asian), Mescalero (0% Asian), and Bent (0% Asian).

Ruidoso's Hispanic Population

2,248 residents of Ruidoso, or 29.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ruidoso is significantly lower than in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. Ruidoso ranks 299th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 3.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Ruidoso's population has decreased from 30.2% to 29.2%.

Ruidoso is more Hispanic than neighboring Nogal (0% Hispanic), and Mescalero (6.5% Hispanic). Ruidoso is less Hispanic than neighboring Ruidoso Downs (51.6% Hispanic), Capitan (37.8% Hispanic), and Bent (100% Hispanic).

Ruidoso's Native American/Other Population

136 residents of Ruidoso, or 1.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ruidoso is lower than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. Ruidoso ranks 181st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 49.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ruidoso's population has decreased from 3.5% to 1.8%.

Ruidoso is more Native American/Other than neighboring Capitan (0.5% Native American/Other), Nogal (0% Native American/Other), and Bent (0% Native American/Other). Ruidoso is less Native American/Other than neighboring Ruidoso Downs (3.9% Native American/Other), and Mescalero (85.2% Native American/Other).

Ruidoso's Multiracial Population

175 residents of Ruidoso, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ruidoso is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. Ruidoso ranks 151st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruidoso's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 33.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Ruidoso's population has decreased from 3.4% to 2.3%.

Ruidoso is more Multiracial than neighboring Nogal (0% Multiracial), Mescalero (1.8% Multiracial), and Bent (0% Multiracial). Ruidoso is less Multiracial than neighboring Ruidoso Downs (2.9% Multiracial), and Capitan (2.4% 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.