Lincoln County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Name: Lincoln County, New Mexico Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Lincoln County, New Mexico has a population of 20,224, the 19th most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $53,303 and the median home value is $233,200. The poverty rate is 19.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lincoln County Quick Facts

Population 20,224

Median Household Income $53,303

Median Home Value $233,200

Poverty Rate 19.3%

Unemployment Rate 5.1%

Median Age 52.4 years

Homeownership Rate 76.8%

Affordability Ratio 4.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 32.2%

High School Graduation 94.7%

Cities/Places 6

Population 20,224 19th of 33

Median Income $53,303 17% lower than state

Poverty Rate 19.3%

Unemployment 5.1%

How Lincoln County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	20,227	20,224	-0.0%
Median household income	$51,643	$53,303	+3.2%
Median home value	$212,200	$233,200	+9.9%

Median Household Income

Lincoln

$53,303

$64,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lincoln

$233,200

$248,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.6%

$25K-$50K 20.3%

$50K-$100K 30.8%

$100K+ 23.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.6%

$10K-$15K

4.7%

$15K-$20K

3.8%

$20K-$25K

7.6%

$25K-$30K

6.5%

$30K-$35K

3.1%

$35K-$40K

4.1%

$40K-$45K

3.9%

$45K-$50K

2.7%

$50K-$60K

11.3%

$60K-$75K

6.6%

$75K-$100K

12.9%

$100K-$125K

8.1%

$125K-$150K

3.3%

$150K-$200K

6.2%

$200K+

5.6%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

51.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.8%

Renter 23.2%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $956/mo 21.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.7%

18-34

14.0%

35-54

21.9%

55-74

34.4%

75+

13.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Lincoln County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ruidoso	7,699	$52,736	20.6%	$243,800
Ruidoso Downs	2,655	$31,354	40.5%	$154,000
Capitan	1,191	$52,864	14.4%	$111,700
Carrizozo	854	$27,344	24.9%	$84,700
Corona	168	N/A	20.8%	$88,300
Nogal	80	N/A	12.5%	N/A

Explore New Mexico Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 20,224. It is the 19th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 52.4 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. 13.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincoln County is $53,303. This is 17% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $233,200. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lincoln County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 33.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (60.2% vs 36.0%). The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

32.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lincoln County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Mexico and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lincoln County, New Mexico?

Lincoln County has a population of 20,224, making it the 19th most populous county in New Mexico.

What is the median income in Lincoln County?

The median household income in Lincoln County is $53,303 with a poverty rate of 19.3%.

How many cities are in Lincoln County, New Mexico?

Lincoln County contains 6 Census-designated places.