1st Advantage MortgageIn Lincoln County, New Mexico, the typical household earns $53,303 a year and the typical rent is $956. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Lincoln County offer.
On this page
- Who lives in Lincoln County
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
- How Lincoln County ranks in New Mexico
- Household income in Lincoln County
- Census places in Lincoln County
- Counties near Lincoln County
- Before borrowing in Lincoln County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Lincoln County
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
- A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lincoln County
With an estimated 20,224 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lincoln County ranks 19th of 33 in New Mexico for population. Its 4,831 square miles average 4 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Lincoln County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Ruidoso (7,699 people) heads the county's list of 6 Census places, 5 incorporated and 1 census-designated.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
$956 a month is the median gross rent in Lincoln County, 10% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. With a median value of $233,200, a typical Lincoln County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Lincoln County households own their home and 23% rent. The median year built is 1985. Against the median U.S. county, Lincoln County rent is 9% above.
| Housing | Lincoln County | New Mexico statewide | Lincoln County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 44% | 12% | +31.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 29% | +11.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 24.4% | 15.5% | +8.8 pts |
| Owners | 77% | 70% | +6.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 50% | +1.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $956/mo | $1,067/mo | 10% lower |
| Median home value | $233,200 | $248,100 | 6% lower |
With 77% of Lincoln County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. With rent burdens at 52%, keep any Lincoln County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
Education and health care (22%), arts, lodging and food service (14%) and professional and administrative services (11%) lead Lincoln County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 14% locally and 10% for New Mexico. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). 49% of Lincoln County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. No car: 3.9% of Lincoln County households.
| Top industries | Lincoln County share | +/- vs New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -4.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.3% | +4.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | +2.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Lincoln County ranks in New Mexico
Ranked against the other 32 county-level areas in New Mexico, these are the Lincoln County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Lincoln County sits near the top of New Mexico at 44%, 3rd highest of 33. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- Few New Mexico counties match Lincoln County on median age: 52.4 here, 39.4 for the state, ranking 5th highest of 33. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- Few New Mexico counties match Lincoln County on median home value: $233,200 here, $248,100 for the state, ranking 7th highest of 33. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
Household income in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $53,303; statewide it is $64,059, so Lincoln County runs 17% below New Mexico as a whole. That places it 17th among New Mexico's 32 county-level areas.
| Band | Lincoln County | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.2% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.3%, 1 point higher than the state's 17.8%. Lincoln County scores 0.489 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lincoln County median.
Census places in Lincoln County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Lincoln County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 12,647 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $25,520, Capitan over Carrizozo. Median rent ranges from $611 in Carrizozo to $944 in Ruidoso. From Ruidoso to the smallest crossroads, Lincoln County residents share this guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruidoso | village | 7,699 | $52,736 | $944 | 30 mi |
| Ruidoso Downs | city | 2,655 | $31,354 | $936 | 30 mi |
| Capitan | village | 1,191 | $52,864 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Carrizozo | town | 854 | $27,344 | $611 | 23 mi |
| Corona | village | 168 | n/a | n/a | 36 mi |
| Nogal | CDP | 80 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
Counties near Lincoln County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (62 to 103 miles). Income ranges from $36,570 in Socorro County to $58,933 in Valencia County; 3 of these neighbors top Lincoln County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $53,303 | $956/mo | 77% |
| Torrance County, NM | 62 mi | $57,842 | $872/mo | 82% |
| Chaves County, NM | 62 mi | $52,938 | $867/mo | 71% |
| Otero County, NM | 80 mi | $55,876 | $962/mo | 67% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 87 mi | $42,750 | $590/mo | 75% |
| Socorro County, NM | 87 mi | $36,570 | $691/mo | 75% |
| Valencia County, NM | 103 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
Before borrowing in Lincoln County
What the Lincoln County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured housing (24%). Lincoln County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 52.4 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Help that costs nothing. About 3,895 Lincoln County residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
- Rent at $956. With 52% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
Age, degrees and coverage in Lincoln County
Degree holders: 32% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lincoln County | Compared with New Mexico | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.4 | +13.0 yrs | +10.9 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.2% | +1.2 pts | +10.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | -6.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 0.0 pts | +1.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | -1.8 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Work from home | 11.1% | -1.1 pts | +2.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | +1.4 pts | +6.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | -0.9 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Minutes to work | Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
DTI math using Lincoln County medians ($53,303 income, $956 rent):
- $53,303 a year is $4,442 of gross monthly income
- 22% goes to median rent ($956)
- $643: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lincoln County, check the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. If a Lincoln County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The New Mexico page has statewide figures to set beside Lincoln County's.
A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$53,303 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 17th of 32 in the state.
Is Lincoln County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $956 against $1,067 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live near Ruidoso. Which guide is mine?
This one. Ruidoso and the rest of Lincoln County have no separate city guide.
Does living in Lincoln County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Lincoln County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Lincoln County check a lender's license?
With the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.