Real Estate Investing in Ajo, Arizona (85321)

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

Pima County • Population: 4,313 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85321 (Ajo, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (79/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 28.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Ajo, AZ (85321)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $126,316
Avg Monthly Rent $1,377
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $43,309
% Renters 28.6%

Market Analysis: 85321 Ajo

ZIP 85321 inside Ajo, AZ leans into a value-add thesis. Home values near $126K sit below the state median, and rents of $1,377/mo leave room for forced-equity plays.

Value-add is the defining thesis in 85321. Homes trade near $126K, well below the state median, and rehabbed comps tend to clear meaningfully higher — a classic forced-equity setup.

Statewide, AZ value-add investors migrate toward ZIPs with 85321's profile — older stock, soft but real rent growth, and $126K pricing that keeps rehab math workable.

Stepping back, incomes in 85321 sit below the county median, the tenant pool is deep and the demand for upgraded rental stock consistently outruns supply.

Flippers with local expertise can do well in 85321. Out-of-state investors should partner with boots-on-the-ground operators or skip the ZIP entirely.

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 Ajo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,377/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
Tucson, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
70 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Tucson, AZ metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$143K$126K$110K$94K$77K$61KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85321 Compare?

Metric 85321 Ajo Tucson, AZ Arizona
Home Value $126,316 $126,316 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,377 $1,377 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.5% 8.5% - -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 85321? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,377/mo on homes averaging $126,316 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85321 (Ajo, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Pima County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Fort Lowell Realty & Property Management provides realty and property management services in Tucson. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

WilsonPs.com is a domain name for sale. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.5%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tucson, AZ metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
2/2
70 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $126,316
Monthly Rent $1,377
Price-to-Rent 7.6:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.1%
Cap Rate 8.5%
5-Year IRR 13.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.5%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
28.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85321

Population: 4,313

💰 Median Household Income
$43,309
This area
$43,309
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.6%
This area
28.6%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.3%
This area
29.3%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
56.7 years
This area
56.7 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.5%
Other/Mixed 38.8%
Hispanic/Latino 13.3%
Asian 0.6%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.1%
This area
35.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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 85321

C+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
19.0:1 Avg Class Size
$35,740 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

PCJTED - Ajo High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$85,487 Per Student
C+ Average

Ajo Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,866 Per Student
C Below Average

Ajo High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
134 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,866 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

Is house hacking profitable in Ajo, AZ?

House hacking in Ajo, AZ is an attractive. With home values around $126K and rents at $1,377/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How do experienced investors play Ajo, AZ?

Most investors in Ajo, AZ run a value-add and BRRRR deals strategy. It aligns with the 5.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Ajo, AZ a 1% rule market?

The 1% rule is solid territory for Ajo, AZ. Rent-to-price at the median is 1.09%, putting many properties within striking distance.

Does BRRRR pencil out in Ajo, AZ?

Ajo, AZ is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $1,377/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $126K values.

How much do tenants pay in Ajo, AZ?

Average rent in Ajo, AZ is approximately $1,377/mo per month. Against $126K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 85321 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85321 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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How 85321 ranks in Tucson, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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