Real Estate Investing in El Paso, Texas (79902)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

El Paso County • Population: 18,529 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79902 (El Paso, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $39,414 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in El Paso, TX (79902)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $282,743
Avg Monthly Rent $1,162
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $39,414
% Renters 62.0%

Market Analysis: 79902 El Paso

The 79902 ZIP covers a section of El Paso that demands careful diligence. Prices near $283K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 79902 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $283K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 79902 and stronger El Paso ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 79902 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than El Paso averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in El Paso:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,162/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
El Paso, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
79 days
Average time to sell
Slow
5.3%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from El Paso, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 79902

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$95,936/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $141,211 $920 4.7% +5.7% $141,211
2BR $191,871 $1,080 4.1% +6.7% $95,936
3BR $289,770 $1,490 3.7% +8.9% $96,590
4BR $426,686 $1,810 3.1% +8.5% $106,672
5BR $520,400 +8.2% $104,080

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$298K$266K$233K$201K$169K$137KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,258$1,195$1,132$1,068$1,005$942Feb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79902 Compare?

Metric 79902 El Paso El Paso, TX Texas
Home Value $282,743 $87,562 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.4% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,162 $1,430 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79902? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

62% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 79902 (El Paso, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on El Paso, TX metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
2/2
79 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $282,743
Monthly Rent $1,162
Price-to-Rent 20.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79902

Population: 18,529

💰 Median Household Income
$39,414
This area
$39,414
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
62.0%
This area
62.0%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.2%
This area
35.2%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.5 years
This area
39.5 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 49.6%
Hispanic/Latino 47.2%
White 46.0%
Black/African American 2.7%
Asian 1.7%
👶 Under 18
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 79902

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,144 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

LAMAR EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
283 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MESITA EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
933 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
B Good

COACH WALLY HARTLEY PK-8

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
1,266 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
B Good

EL PASO H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,687 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
C+ Average

TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-EL PASO WEST

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
104 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,202 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

TRAVIS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5000 N STEVENS ST, EL PASO
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

AOY EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 901 S CAMPBELL ST, EL PASO
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

CLENDENIN EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2701 HARRISON AVE, EL PASO
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

HART EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1110 PARK ST, EL PASO
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
A Very Good

MORENO EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2300 SAN DIEGO, EL PASO
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,379 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 10,414 Off-Campus Students
C+
The University of Texas at El Paso
24,351 students · 1.0 mi
D
Pipo Academy of Hair Design
11 students · 2.2 mi
C
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso
922 students · 4.0 mi
C
Southwest University at El Paso
1,817 students · 5.0 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-El Paso
667 students · 6.7 mi
C
El Paso Community College
24,420 students · 7.3 mi
C
Western Technical College
635 students · 7.7 mi
C
Tri-State Cosmetology Institute
147 students · 9.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 10,414 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is house hacking profitable in El Paso, TX?

House hacking in El Paso, TX is a challenging. With home values around $283K and rents at $1,162/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the investability score for El Paso, TX?

El Paso, TX rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $283K and rents near $1,162/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Does El Paso, TX favor landlords or tenants?

TX ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. El Paso generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the average monthly rent in El Paso, TX?

Rental rates in El Paso, TX average $1,162/mo. Tenant demand and $283K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What kind of tenants rent in El Paso, TX?

Expect a solid tenant pool in El Paso, TX. The rental market absorbs $1,162/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 79902 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 79902 ranks in El Paso, TX

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