RentalCalcs
ToolsMarket MapMy DealsPricingBlog
RentalCalcs

Professional real estate investment calculators to help you analyze deals faster and make confident investment decisions.

Product

  • Tools
  • Market Map
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • About

Top Markets

  • Maricopa County, AZ
  • Harris County, TX
  • San Diego County, CA
  • Miami-Dade County, FL
  • Dallas County, TX
  • Clark County, NV
  • Cook County, IL
  • Tarrant County, TX
  • Wayne County, MI
  • Orange County, CA
  • Browse All Markets →

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2026 RentalCalcs. All rights reserved.

Market MapNew MexicoSanta Fe

Santa Fe County

New MexicoPopulation: 154,481
39
/100
Avoid
#723 of 1,000 counties
#26 in New Mexico (30 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs Research·Independent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated May 11, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$551,954
Median Home Price
136% above national median
$1,931/mo
Median Rent
28% above national median
4.20%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 91% nationally
-$1,639
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,931/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$413,965-$915/mo3.6%-11.5%
Median
typical MLS deal
$551,954-$1,639/mo2.7%-15.5%
125% of median
newer / premium
$689,942-$2,362/mo2.2%-17.9%

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$551,954
Down Payment (20%)$110,391
Loan Amount$441,563
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,931
Monthly P&I-$2,893
Est. Expenses (35%)-$676
Net Cash Flow-$1,639/mo
2.7%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-15.5%
Cash-on-Cash Return
4.20%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.7% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
39/100
39
Cash Flow(30%)
33/100

Based on 4.20% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
48/100

Based on -0.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
22/100

Price-to-income ratio of 7.8x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Below-average rent-to-price ratio (4.20%)
  • -Declining home values (-0.5% YoY)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,639/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 2.7% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population
154,481
Median Income
$70,522
vs $57,059 national est.
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
7.8x
Less affordable

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
  • −You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year
  • −You rely on FHA-style financing: prices are stretched relative to local incomes

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
ColfaxNM
47$240,853Est. pending—HoldView
TaosNM
45$427,888$2,1636.06%HoldView
HidalgoNM
45$87,347Est. pending—HoldView
De BacaNM
42$94,683Est. pending—AvoidView
CurrentSanta FeNM
39$551,954$1,9314.20%Avoid
LincolnNM
36$342,784Est. pending—AvoidView

The Bottom Line

AvoidSanta Fe may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Santa Fe County in New Mexico scores 39/100, ranking #723 of 1,000 US counties (top 96%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $1639/month; the 4.20% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-1,639/mo
Cap Rate
2.7%
Cash-on-Cash
-15.5%

Related markets

Markets like Santa Fe with stronger cash flow

  • Taos County for cash-flow rentals

Cheaper alternatives to Santa Fe

  • Hidalgo County, lower entry price
  • De Baca County, lower entry price
  • Colfax County, lower entry price

Head-to-head comparisons

  • Santa Fe vs Lincoln for rentals
  • Santa Fe vs De Baca for rentals
  • Santa Fe vs Taos for rentals
All counties in New Mexico →

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Santa Fe?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRRHouse HackOwner-occupied strategyMultifamily5+ unit properties
Explore Other Markets