%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
MarketsNew MexicoFarmingtonCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Farmington, NM

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Farmington, NM

Cap Rate
4.38%
Median Price
$265K
Rent/Mo
$1,390
1% Rule
0.52%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Farmington's price-to-income ratio is 5.1x — homes cost 5.1 times the local median household income of $51,750. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Farmington (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,762/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $2,020. The median rent of $1,390/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Farmington is $51,750, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.8% per year. Farmington is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Despite higher relative prices, Farmington compensates with deep rental demand from a large population priced out of homeownership. Focus on neighborhoods where rent growth is strongest and tenant quality is highest.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →

How Farmington Compares

Farmington vs New Mexico state average and national average across key investment metrics. Farmington beats the national average but trails the New Mexico average on cap rate.

Metric
Farmington
New Mexico Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.38%
5.03%
3.81%
Median Price
$265K
$278K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,390
$1,488
$1,524
Property Tax
0.77%
0.77%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.5%
5.5%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.8%/yr
0.8%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby West Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Farmington, NM
4.4%
$265K
$1,390
0.77%
Sierra Vista, AZ
4.5%
$260K
$1,360
0.63%
Butte, MT
4.0%
$275K
$1,320
0.76%
Sterling, CO
4.3%
$250K
$1,220
0.51%
Yuma, AZ
4.2%
$280K
$1,380
0.63%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Farmington affordable for renters?
Renters in Farmington spend approximately 32% of median household income on rent. This exceeds the 30% affordability threshold, meaning housing costs are stretched relative to local incomes. The median household income is $51,750, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Farmington?
Farmington's price-to-income ratio is 5.1x, meaning homes cost 5.1 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Farmington?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $265K home is approximately $1,410/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,668/mo. The median rent of $1,390/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Farmington's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Farmington ($265K) are 21% below the national average. Rents ($1,390/mo) are 9% below average. Property taxes (0.77%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full Farmington Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Farmington & Related Markets

More Farmington Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

Similar Markets in the West

Madera, CA$420K · $2,200/mo
4.4%
Clearlake, CA$305K · $1,580/mo
4.3%
Payson, AZ$380K · $1,970/mo
4.5%
Sterling, CO$250K · $1,220/mo
4.3%
Coos Bay, OR$340K · $1,780/mo
4.2%
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.