Real Estate Investing in Benson, Arizona (85602)

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

Cochise County • Population: 9,860 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 85602 (Benson, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 20.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Benson, AZ (85602)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $254,232
Avg Monthly Rent $990
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,577
% Renters 23.5%

Market Analysis: 85602 Benson

The 85602 ZIP covers a section of Benson that demands careful diligence. Prices near $254K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $990/mo on a $254K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 85602 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 85602's metrics run below Cochise County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 85602 ZIP's population of 9,860 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 85602 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Benson:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $990/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.2%
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 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85602

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$80,997/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $164,490 $1,530 6.7% +6.6% $82,245
3BR $264,982 $2,070 5.6% +7.9% $88,327
4BR $323,987 $2,350 5.2% +7.1% $80,997

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$267K$235K$203K$171K$139K$107KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$990$989$988$987$986$985Apr 2026May 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 85602 Compare?

Metric 85602 Benson Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Arizona
Home Value $254,232 $254,232 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $990 $990 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85602? Click to expand

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

📊 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 85602 (Benson, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $254,232
Monthly Rent $990
Price-to-Rent 21.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
20.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85602

Population: 9,860

💰 Median Household Income
$54,577
This area
$54,577
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.5%
This area
24.5%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.9 years
This area
54.9 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.9%
This area
20.9%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.6%
Other/Mixed 13.5%
Hispanic/Latino 9.6%
Asian 0.7%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.9%
This area
32.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 85602

C Avg School Grade
6 Schools
34.0:1 Avg Class Size
$11,920 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Benson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,920 Per Student
B Good

Benson Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,920 Per Student
C+ Average

Benson Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,920 Per Student
C Below Average

CTD - Benson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement
👥
48 Students
👨‍🏫
80.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,920 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Benson Digital Learning Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
38 Students
👨‍🏫
38.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,920 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

Are there empty rentals in Benson, AZ?

Benson, AZ sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader AZ rental market.

Is Benson, AZ landlord-friendly?

AZ law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Benson inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What is the typical home price in Benson, AZ?

In Benson, AZ the median home value sits at $254K. Against the broader AZ market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How viable is house hacking in Benson, AZ?

House hacking in Benson, AZ is a challenging. With home values around $254K and rents at $990/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the typical renter like in Benson, AZ?

Benson, AZ offers a measured renter base at the $990/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 85602 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85602 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 85602 ranks in Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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