Population
19,844
2025
−2.3% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Lincoln County, NM: population growth, jobs and income
Lincoln County lost 192 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−1.0%).
Lincoln County had an estimated 19,844 residents in 2025, down 2.3% (464 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than New Mexico as a whole (+0.3%), and the 20th fastest growth of 32 counties in New Mexico.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Lincoln County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Lincoln County, ranked against New Mexico and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$956/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes44.0%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months742025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−64
2025
−3.2 per 1,000 residents
+134 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.3%
2025
−0.7 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
111
2025
+22.0% since 2021
5.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$53,303
2020–24
+18.6% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
5,538
2023
+9.7% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 64 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 5,538 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +9.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.3% in 2025, 0.7 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 111 new homes in 2025, or 5.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $53,303 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +18.6% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,533rd.
Part of the Ruidoso, NM micro area.
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Lincoln County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19,844 | −192 |
| 2024 | 20,036 | −5 |
| 2023 | 20,041 | −288 |
| 2022 | 20,329 | −67 |
| 2021 | 20,396 | +88 |
| 2020 | 20,308 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Lincoln County
Lincoln County lost 464 people since 2020 even though 134 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 648, and net international migration added 45.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −132 | −648 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +4 | +45 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −64 | +134 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | +5 | |
| Total change | −192 | −464 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In New Mexico | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 20th of 32 | 2,533rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 16th of 32 | 2,374th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 7th of 32 | 709th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 17th of 31 | 2,547th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 15th of 32 | 1,924th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 2nd of 18 | 514th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Lincoln County, NM as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Otero County and Chaves County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Lincoln County's population change (−2.3%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
2 of its 6 neighbouring counties with a comparable figure had a higher median household income than Lincoln County's $53,303 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, NM This county | 19,844 | −2.3% | −3.2 | 5.6 | $53,303 |
| Torrance County, NM | 16,100 | +6.9% | 14.2 | – | $57,842 |
| Otero County, NM | 70,368 | +3.7% | −6.3 | 0.0 | $55,876 |
| Chaves County, NM | 63,364 | −2.7% | −5.1 | 1.2 | $52,938 |
| De Baca County, NM | 1,647 | −2.4% | 11.5 | – | $31,532 (2016–20) |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 4,343 | −2.2% | −6.0 | – | $42,750 |
| Socorro County, NM | 15,838 | −4.3% | −4.1 | – | $36,570 |
| Sierra County, NM | 11,395 | −1.4% | 14.2 | – | $41,600 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Lincoln County growing?
No. Its population fell 2.3% between 2020 and 2025, about 464 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). New Mexico as a whole changed +0.3% over the same years. That ranks 20th of 32 counties in New Mexico for population growth.
How many people moved to Lincoln County?
On net, none in 2025: about 64 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Lincoln County?
It averaged 4.3% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Lincoln County?
About 19,844 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Lincoln County?
Private employers there had 5,538 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +9.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in New Mexico
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other New Mexico county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Lincoln County data alerts
Email me when Lincoln County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.