HomeNew MexicoLincoln County
Lincoln County, New Mexico: commercial real estate data.
Lincoln County, New Mexico had an estimated 20,025 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,262, across 4,831 square miles. County output reached $894.2 m in 2024, 695 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 41 7(a) approvals worth $20.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lincoln County
How many people live in Lincoln County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,224
- Households10,000
- Average household size2.02
- Median household income$53,303
- Median age52.4
- Median gross rent$956 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$233,200
- Home value to household income4.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher32.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,872
- Population under 183,369
- Share under 1816.7 percent
- Population 65 and over6,327
- Share 65 and over31.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,528
- Civilian labor force8,954
- Unemployment rate5.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.1 percent
- Rank by population among New Mexico counties19th of 33
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1864th of 3,222
Lincoln County is the 19th largest of 33 New Mexico counties by population. A median home costs 4.4 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 31.3 percent against 16.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lincoln County
Is Lincoln County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,025
- Census 2020 base population20,262
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.17 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-22
- Births, 2024145
- Deaths, 2024292
- Natural change, 2024-147
- Net domestic migration, 202494
- Net international migration, 202431
- Total net migration, 2024125
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024208
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2257th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.17 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lincoln County
Where are people moving to Lincoln County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving667
- People arriving, from those returns1,243
- Tax returns filed by households leaving670
- Net household movement-3
- Adjusted gross income arriving$57.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$12.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$85,984
- Average income of a leaving household$67,030
- Largest single originOtero County (64 households)
- Largest single destinationOtero County (94 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otero County | 64 | 123 | $4.2 m |
| Doña Ana County | 42 | 81 | $2.4 m |
| Chaves County | 41 | 77 | $2.4 m |
| Bernalillo County | 40 | 56 | $2.6 m |
| El Paso County | 30 | 69 | $3.4 m |
| Eddy County | 22 | 48 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $18,954 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Otero County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lincoln County
What is the Lincoln County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$894.2 m
- County GDP, 2023$922.9 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-3.1 percent
- GDP change over five years20.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Mexico areas BEA publishes20th of 33
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1937th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,214
Output grew -3.1 percent in the latest year and 20.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lincoln County
Employment by industry in Lincoln County
- Covered employment, annual average6,782
- Establishments reporting888
- Average annual pay$43,202
- Average weekly wage$831
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,299
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,765
- Retail trade, employment1,223
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,782
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment532
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$32,641
- Construction, employment358
- Construction, average annual pay$41,721
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment234
- Other services, except public administration, employment209
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,299 | 103 | $25,765 |
| Retail trade | 1,223 | 126 | $32,782 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 532 | 24 | $32,641 |
| Construction | 358 | 104 | $41,721 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 234 | 42 | $43,061 |
| Other services, except public administration | 209 | 55 | $34,492 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 165 | 56 | $40,496 |
| Finance and insurance | 132 | 37 | $61,466 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,299 jobs, 19.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lincoln County
How many businesses are in Lincoln County?
- Establishments, all industries695
- Employment at those establishments5,538
- Annual payroll$204.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents34.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
Building permits in Lincoln County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202492
- Declared construction value permitted$47.0 m
- Single family units authorized88
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units4.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$511,274
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.2
Single-family homes are 95.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lincoln County
SBA loans in Lincoln County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded41
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$20.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$490,846
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$29,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,168,000
- Largest single approval$3,793,100
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)377
- Jobs per approval9.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals27
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer46.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms19
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals4.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (7)
- Most active lenderFirst Savings Bank (26)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.8 m
- Average 504 approval$528,556
- Median 504 approval$320,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval5.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.1
- Most active CDCCapital Certified Development Corporation (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.9 m
The average approval of $490,846 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 46.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lincoln County
Do SBA loans in Lincoln County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full13
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure23
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 13 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
SBA lending by place in Lincoln County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Ruidoso, approvals24
- Alto, approvals7
- Ruidoso Downs, approvals4
- Carrizozo, approvals3
- Capitan, approvals2
- Nogal, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ruidoso | 24 | $13,089,400 |
| Alto | 7 | $3,345,000 |
| Ruidoso Downs | 4 | $3,041,800 |
| Carrizozo | 3 | $226,000 |
| Capitan | 2 | $272,500 |
| Nogal | 1 | $150,000 |
Ruidoso accounts for 24 approvals against 7 in Alto. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
How large is Lincoln County?
- Land area4,831 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Mexico counties8th of 33
- Width, east to west85.7 mi
- Height, north to south83.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land4
- Establishments per square mile0.14
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
Flood risk in Lincoln County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lincoln County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 350122
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Lincoln County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lincoln County (community 350122), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lincoln County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 83.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lincoln County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lincoln County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,224
- Households10,000
- Average household size2.02
- Median household income$53,303
- Median age52.4
Common questions
Lincoln County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,025 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 20,224, in 10,000 households, ranking 19th of 33 New Mexico counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lincoln County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.17 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,262, to 20,025 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 145 births against 292 deaths, with net migration of 125. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$53,303. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,200, which is 4.4 times income, and median gross rent is $956 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lincoln County?
695 establishments, employing 5,538 people with an annual payroll of $204.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lincoln County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,299 jobs, 19.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,782 jobs at an average annual pay of $43,202, or $831 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lincoln County?
41 7(a) approvals totaling $20.1 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $4.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lincoln County?
92 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $47.0 m. Multifamily was 4.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lincoln County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lincoln County come from?
The largest single origin is Otero County, with 64 households. Arriving households report an average income of $85,984 against $67,030 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lincoln County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lincoln County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lincoln County
Cities and places in Lincoln.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lincoln County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruidoso | village | 7,699 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Ruidoso Downs | city | 2,655 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Capitan | village | 1,191 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Carrizozo | town | 854 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Corona | village | 168 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nogal | CDP | 80 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 7 of the county's 41 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lincoln County, the largest being Alto (7). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby