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Best Cities for Rental Property in New Mexico

12 New Mexico cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across New Mexico markets is 5.0%, with median home prices averaging $278K and rents averaging $1,488/mo. Clovis leads with a 7.3% cap rate at a $160K median price. New Mexico's low average property tax rate of 0.77% gives investors a significant cash flow advantage.

5.0%
Avg Cap Rate
$278K
Avg Price
$1,488/mo
Avg Rent
12
Cities Tracked

New Mexico Rental Market Analysis

New Mexico offers 12 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 5.0% is above the 3.81% national average, making New Mexico an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: New Mexico home prices average $278K, which is 17% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,488/mo. The most affordable entry point is Portales at $145K, while Clovis offers the highest cap rate at 7.3%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.77% across New Mexico, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $861 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Santa Fe has the lowest rate at 0.75%.Vacancy averages 5.5%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across New Mexico averages 0.78% per year, led by Rio Rancho at 1.2%. Home values are appreciating at 2.7% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: New Mexico offers moderate opportunities for rental investors. The best deals are in cities at the top of the ranking — use the calculators on each city page to model specific properties.

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How New Mexico Compares to National Averages

Metric
New Mexico
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
5.0%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$278K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,488/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.77%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.5%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.78%/yr
0.92%/yr

New Mexico Cities by Cap Rate Tier

7% – 8% (1)6% – 7% (4)5% – 6% (1)4% – 5% (2)3% – 4% (3)Below 3% (1)

All 12 New Mexico Cities Ranked

1
Clovis, NM7.3% cap rate
$160K median$1,250/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
2
Carlsbad, NM6.7% cap rate
$240K median$1,760/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
3
Roswell, NM6.7% cap rate
$170K median$1,240/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
4
Hobbs, NM6.2% cap rate
$195K median$1,330/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
5
Portales, NM6.0% cap rate
$145K median$970/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
6
Alamogordo, NM5.8% cap rate
$225K median$1,470/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
7
Farmington, NM4.4% cap rate
$265K median$1,390/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
8
Taos, NM4.1% cap rate
$430K median$2,160/mo rent0.77% tax0.8% growth
9
Las Cruces, NM3.7% cap rate
$285K median$1,340/mo rent0.8% tax0.8% growth
10
Rio Rancho, NM3.4% cap rate
$340K median$1,500/mo rent0.76% tax1.2% growth
11
Albuquerque, NM3.4% cap rate
$340K median$1,500/mo rent0.78% tax0.6% growth
12
Santa Fe, NM2.5% cap rate
$545K median$1,940/mo rent0.75% tax0.4% growth

Other West States

Alaska (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Arizona (17 cities · 3.5% avg)Hawaii (5 cities · 3.1% avg)Nevada (11 cities · 3.1% avg)California (38 cities · 3.0% avg)Colorado (18 cities · 2.7% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Mexico a good state for rental property investing?
New Mexico has an average cap rate of 5.0% across 12 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Clovis at 7.3%. Average home prices of $278K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 0.77% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in New Mexico?
Clovis leads New Mexico with a 7.3% cap rate, $160K median price, and $1,250/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Rio Rancho (1.2% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in New Mexico?
Property taxes in New Mexico average 0.77%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Santa Fe at 0.75%. On an average-priced home of $278K, annual taxes are approximately $2,145.
How many New Mexico cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 12 New Mexico cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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