Ivan Gillis

Retirees Find a Lower Cost of Living and Mountain Scenery in Pretty, Fast-Growing New Mexico Resort Town of Ruidoso

Cost of Living:  Below the National Average

Tucked high above the desert floor at 7,000 feet in southern New Mexico's rugged Sierra Blanca Mountains is the is the up-and-coming ski resort town of Ruidoso (population 15,000), a pretty spot where the cost-of-living is less than the national average and there is room to spread out.  Billy the Kid roamed here during the early 1880s, and today Ruidoso retains its southwestern character with wide-open skies and a friendly community.  Of the population 30% is age 45 to 64 and 22% is age 65 or better.

An unpretentious place, Ruidoso offers a casual lifestyle, but it is no longer a "sleepy mountain community," as more people are discovering it and developers have made their way here.  In fact, Ruidoso is the third fastest growing metropolis in New Mexico.  Housing, though, is still relatively affordable; the median home price is $195,000, well below the national average, and the overall cost-of-living is roughly 7% below the national average.    Ruidoso housing consists primarily of single-family homes, cabins and condominiums.  Modest, somewhat rustic but comfortable single-family homes, dating from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and literally nestled among the pines, start in the low to mid-$100,000s. Inventory begins to expand in the upper-$100,000s and some truly lovely mountain homes can be had for $200,000 to $250,000. 

Alto Village, nine miles north of Ruidoso, is a beautiful, gated development with a private golf course and spacious homes, some southwestern adobe-style, starting in the low- to mid-$300,000s and rising to $900,000.   The master-planned Ranches of Sonterra is another similar gated community with upscale homes.

Some small (500 square feet) condominiums in and around Ruidoso are for sale for less than $100,000, and smaller (900 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths) but more elegant units are also on the market for $150,000.  There are also many manufactured homes on private mountain property; prices range from approximately $35,000 to $120,000, depending on the size and age of the home and the size of the land parcel upon which it sits.

Property taxes in the municipality of Ruidoso range from $24 to $30 per $1,000 of value with homes assessed at 33% of appraised value.  Those residents who are 65 or above and with an annual income of less than $16,000 can claim a $125-$250 homestead exemption.  The tax on a $150,000 home, at the highest rate and without an exemption, would be about $1,485 per year.  Social security income is taxed, but those 65 or better may qualify for an $8,000 exemption on other taxable income.

Ruidoso is one of the prettiest spots in New Mexico and although it is known primarily as a ski town (Sierra Blanca looms outside of town and is home to the Ski Apache ski area), many outdoor activities, including fishing, camping, hiking and cross-country skiing can be enjoyed in nearby Lincoln National Forest and on Bonito Lake.   Ruidoso Downs is the site of the world's richest quarter horse race, the All American Futurity, and brings a surge of horseracing fans, up to 25,000 of them, each weekend during racing season, which starts Memorial Day Weekend.  Golfers will find two public golf courses and one private one.

There are also a number of annual festivals, most with a definite Western flavor.  The Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium is the country's premier cowboy gathering (with real cowboys) and is held every October.   The Smokey Bear Stampede, in Lincoln County, is held every July 4th and features fireworks, a rodeo, music, chainsaw bear carving, a marketplace, a calf scramble (don't ask) and lots of food.   June brings the Mountain Blues Festival, and the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally brings 35,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to town each September.  To offset that somewhat, the Ruidoso Arts Festival comes to Ruidoso in July and is recognized as one of the top juried art shows in the United States, featuring more than 100 award-winning artists displaying work in a variety of fine art mediums, including glass, ceramics and photography.

The climate is a strong reason to retire here.  Summers are pleasant, moderated by the elevation, and are characterized by warm days, cool nights and lots of sunshine. Daytime temperatures average around 80 degrees.   Indian summer conditions often run through October, with temperatures in the 70s.  Winters temperatures dip into the 20s thanks to the elevation, but snow stays mostly in the mountains (although Ruidoso does receive a few inches each winter month).  The area receives 12 to 15 inches of precipitation per year, and afternoon humidity hovers around 25%.

Health care is somewhat limited but is provided by non-profit Lincoln County Medical Center, which is managed by  Presbyterian Healthcare Services.  Here residents have access to 24-hour emergency care, intensive care and diagnostic services.  Major medical care is available in Roswell, home of space aliens, and in nearby Alamogordo.

There are more than 40 places of worship, including a racetrack chapel, and Catholicism has a strong influence here.  We were unable to find a synagogue. 

The Ruidoso branch of Eastern New Mexico University offers continuing education classes and can be reached at (505) 257-2120.  The Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) has a chapter here (505-257-4565) and is a good way to become involved in volunteer activities.  Volunteer opportunities can also be found at the Medical Center, with the library or in the school system.

Ruidoso is small town with a big heart, but it is growing at a rapid pace, which can be a drawback since fast growth can bring some problems, one of which is the strain on the local water supply, although the situation should be resolved with the soon-to-be expansion of the local water facility.   Other drawbacks may be that Ruidoso has no public transportation system, and parts of town are hilly and steep.  The crime rate is also slightly above the national average. 

Those wanting to retire in one of the prettiest spots in New Mexico, though, should give this high altitude town a look.  Even with the recent growth, deer can be found grazing in people's front yards, and neighbors stop to say hello to one another.  The sky is blue; the air is crisp and the mountains beckon.  Not a bad environment in which to spend retirement.

Note: On July 26 and 27, 2008, Ruidoso was hit by flash flooding from Hurricane Dolly.  The town received up to 9 inches of rain and residents and tourists were evacuated.