Cost of Living in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Bernalillo County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Bernalillo County ranks #2,560 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Bernalillo County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,144 Monthly
In Bernalillo County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,144 per month, a figure that sits above the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $905. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.2%, which differs from the state unweighted county mean of 28.4% by 2.8 percentage points. Residential real estate metrics show a median home value of $292,900, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $192,727. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,213, while the state unweighted county mean was $711. Renter households in the county had a median income of $44,381. These figures are based on the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Bernalillo County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.2% of renter household income in Bernalillo County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,144 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,213. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New Mexico unweighted mean of county median rents is $905 per month. Bernalillo County's $1,144 median is 26.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Bernalillo County
Rent Burden
19.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,621
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.0%
of gross income
The median home in Bernalillo County may be a stretch
Median home value is $292,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,338 vs. your max of $1,621.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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