Home / Home Buying by state / New Mexico / Chaves County

Buying a home in Chaves County, New Mexico

The typical owner-occupied home in Chaves County is worth about $156,400, 37% below the New Mexico median of $248,100 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $935 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of their home's value, lower than the New Mexico rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $52,938 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (3.9 times for New Mexico). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 43% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Chaves County at a glance

Chaves County New Mexico U.S.
Median home value $156,400 $248,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $935 $1,731 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.60% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $52,938 $64,059 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 71% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 43% 52% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,345 $1,564 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.8% 20.6% 21.0%
Median rent $867 $1,067 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 29.2% 30.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1972 1985 1980
Vacant homes 11.7% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 64,217 2,120,246 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Chaves County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chaves County home of $156,400 with 20% down costs about $985 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,246, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $42,217 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Chaves County household income of $52,938; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $196,000.

The median rent here is $867 a month, so owning the median home costs about $118 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$31,280
Loan amount$125,120
Principal and interest$842
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$78
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$65
PMI$0
Total per month$985

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,474
Loan amount$153,567
Principal and interest$1,033
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$78
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$65
FHA mortgage insurance$69
Total per month$1,246

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Chaves County

What is the median home value in Chaves County?

About $156,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Chaves County?

Homeowners pay a median $935 a year, which is about 0.60% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Chaves County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $985 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,217 a year.

More about Chaves County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data