Is Curry County, NM good for real estate investing?

Curry County has an investment score of 72/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #113 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Curry?

The rent-to-price ratio in Curry County is 9.54% annually, which ranks in the 97th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Curry?

The median home price in Curry County is $159,954. This ranks #199 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Curry?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Curry County would generate negative cash flow of $11/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Curry County

New MexicoPopulation: 48,327

/100

Buy

#113 of 1,000 counties

#1 in New Mexico (30 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 31, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$159,954

Median Home Price

30% below national median

$1,272/mo

Median Rent

12% below national median

9.54%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 3% nationally

-$11

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,272/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$119,966	+$198/mo	8.3%	+8.6%
Median typical MLS deal	$159,954	-$11/mo	6.2%	-0.4%
125% of median newer / premium	$199,943	-$221/mo	5.0%	-5.8%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$159,954

Down Payment (20%)$31,991

Loan Amount$127,963

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,272

Monthly P&I-$838

Est. Expenses (35%)-$445

Net Cash Flow-$11/mo

6.2%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-0.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

9.54%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 6.2% 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.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

72/100

Cash Flow(30%)

95/100

Based on 9.54% 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%)

96/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

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

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (9.54%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-0.5% YoY)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 6.2% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

48,327

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up

Skip if

−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

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentCurryNM	72	$159,954	$1,272	9.54%	Buy
LeaNM	70	$189,259	$1,363	8.64%	Buy	View
CibolaNM	68	$154,549	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
RooseveltNM	66	$141,276	$997	8.47%	Buy	View
San MiguelNM	65	$257,118	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
OteroNM	64	$227,246	$1,489	7.87%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyCurry offers solid investment potential with roughly break-even cash flow at typical financing.

Curry County in New Mexico scores 72/100, ranking #113 of 1,000 US counties (top 14%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow (9.54% gross rent-to-price ratio). The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-11/mo

Cap Rate

6.2%

Cash-on-Cash

-0.4%