Real Estate Investing in Nogales, Arizona (85621)

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

Santa Cruz County • Population: 21,512 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85621 (Nogales, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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
4 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Elevated poverty: 21.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $37,004 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Nogales, AZ (85621)?

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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 $222,454
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $37,004
% Renters 50.9%

Market Analysis: 85621 Nogales

Investors eyeing 85621 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $222K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $222K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 85621 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within AZ, ZIP 85621 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Santa Cruz County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 85621 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 85621 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Nogales:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Nogales, AZ Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.5%
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 Nogales, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85621

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$68,249/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $155,422 $1,050 4.9% +7.0% $77,711
3BR $204,747 $1,460 5.1% +7.2% $68,249
4BR $295,929 $1,500 3.6% +6.8% $73,982
5BR $380,360 +6.7% $76,072

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$238K$205K$172K$139K$105K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85621 Compare?

Metric 85621 Nogales Nogales, AZ Arizona
Home Value $222,454 $222,454 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $945 $945 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85621? Click to expand

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

51% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85621 (Nogales, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Nogales, AZ metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $222,454
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 19.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
11.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85621

Population: 21,512

💰 Median Household Income
$37,004
This area
$37,004
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.9%
This area
50.9%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.3%
This area
17.3%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.9 years
This area
36.9 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 54.1%
Hispanic/Latino 51.3%
White 45.2%
Black/African American 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
24.9%
This area
24.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
21.5%
This area
21.5%
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 85621

C+ Avg School Grade
18 Schools
32.8:1 Avg Class Size
$19,475 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Little Red Schoolhouse

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
176 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,989 Per Student
B Good

Challenger Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
B Good

PCJTED - Nogales high School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$85,487 Per Student
B Good

PCJTED - Pierson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$85,487 Per Student
B Good

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C+ Average

Robert Bracker Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C+ Average

A J Mitchell Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
497 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C+ Average

Mary L Welty Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C+ Average

Mexicayotl Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
165 Students
💰
$14,449 Per Student
C Below Average

Desert Shadows Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
765 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C Below Average

Wade Carpenter Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
557 Students
👨‍🏫
23.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
C Below Average

Colegio Petite Arizona

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter Limited Data
👥
262 Students
💰
$10,858 Per Student
C Below Average

Pierson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
155 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Nogales High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,795 Students
👨‍🏫
25.1:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Pinnacle Charter High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
58 Students
💰
$9,026 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

NUSD Online

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
186.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,385 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

EdOptions Preparatory Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
93 Students
💰
$6,011 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 strategy should investors use in Nogales, AZ?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Nogales, AZ best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $222K price point.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Nogales, AZ?

Typical homes in Nogales, AZ go for around $222K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

How strong are rents in Nogales, AZ?

The typical rental in Nogales, AZ commands about $945/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $222K purchase basis.

Is Nogales, AZ a good market for FHA house hackers?

Nogales, AZ offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $945/mo rent level.

Is vacancy a concern in Nogales, AZ?

Expect elevated vacancy in Nogales, AZ. Rents at $945/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 85621 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85621 ranks in Nogales, AZ

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