Real Estate Investing in Las Animas, Colorado (81054)

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

Bent County • Population: 4,760 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81054 (Las Animas, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 26.9% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Las Animas, CO (81054)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $114,498
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,346
% Renters 44.1%

Market Analysis: 81054 Las Animas

This part of Bent County is not an easy win. The 81054 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $114K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 81054 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Turning to rents, 81054 offers a low basis, the region around Las Animas has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 81054 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Las Animas's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 81054. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Las Animas:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 81054

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
10.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$35,676/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $71,352 $1,020 10.3% -0.9% $35,676
3BR $124,296 $1,420 8.2% +1.5% $41,432
4BR $180,187 $1,600 6.4% +6.7% $45,047

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$143K$121K$99K$77K$55K$33KSep 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81054 Compare?

Metric 81054 Las Animas Colorado
Home Value $114,498 $114,498 $535,778
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 6.3% 6.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 81054? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 44% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 81054 (Las Animas, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.3%
Good
5yr Growth
-1.8%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $114,498
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 10.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.6%
Cap Rate 6.3%
5-Year IRR 4.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -2.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.3%). 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
17.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.8%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81054

Population: 4,760

💰 Median Household Income
$41,346
This area
$41,346
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.1%
This area
44.1%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.1 years
This area
40.1 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.6%
Other/Mixed 26.5%
Hispanic/Latino 17.3%
Black/African American 5.7%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
26.9%
This area
26.9%
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 81054

C+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
34.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,362 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Las Animas Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
70 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,362 Per Student
B Good

Las Animas High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,362 Per Student
B Good

Las Animas Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,362 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Jump Start Learning Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
14 Students
👨‍🏫
87.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,362 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What investment strategy works best in Las Animas, CO?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Las Animas, CO best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $114K price point.

Are landlord laws favorable in Las Animas, CO?

Las Animas, CO falls under CO landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Las Animas, CO?

Vacancy risk in Las Animas, CO is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

Does house hacking make sense in Las Animas, CO?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Las Animas, CO reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is the tenant base reliable in Las Animas, CO?

Las Animas, CO offers a stable renter base at the $918/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 81054 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81054 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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