Cost of Living in Rio Arriba 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 Rio Arriba County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rio Arriba County ranks #271 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 9%)
Sourced county brief
Rio Arriba County Median Home Value Estimated at $243,700
Rio Arriba County's median home value was estimated at $243,700, which is $50,973 higher than the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $192,727. For renter households, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 20.3%. This is 8.1 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.4%. The median gross rent in the county is $740, compared to the state unweighted mean of $905. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $513, or $198 below the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $711. The median income for renter-occupied households is $41,204. These housing metrics are based on the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The data is reported under dataVersion acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1, last reviewed on 2026-07-10. 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: Rio Arriba County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 20.3% of renter household income in Rio Arriba County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $740 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $513. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,600 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. Rio Arriba County's $740 median is 18.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rio Arriba County
Rent Burden
15.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,334
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.8%
of gross income
The median home in Rio Arriba County may be a stretch
Median home value is $243,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,946 vs. your max of $1,334.
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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