Real Estate Investing in Los Alamos, New Mexico (87544)

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

Los Alamos County • Population: 13,806 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 87544 (Los Alamos, NM)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Los Alamos, NM (87544)?

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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 $583,809
Avg Monthly Rent $2,838
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $130,368
% Renters 35.2%

Market Analysis: 87544 Los Alamos

The 87544 ZIP covers a section of Los Alamos that demands careful diligence. Prices near $584K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $584K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 87544 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 87544 sits on the difficult end of the NM spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 87544 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 87544, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Los Alamos:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,838/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
Los Alamos, NM Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.7%
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 Los Alamos, NM metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 87544

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$156,986/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $378,513 $1,730 3.3% +8.4% $189,257
3BR $555,324 $2,070 2.7% +7.7% $185,108
4BR $700,456 $2,830 2.9% +7.2% $175,114
5BR $784,931 +7.2% $156,986

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$619K$538K$456K$375K$293K$211KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,883$2,751$2,619$2,488$2,356$2,224Apr 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 87544 Compare?

Metric 87544 Los Alamos Los Alamos, NM New Mexico
Home Value $583,809 $591,298 N/A $308,799
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,838 $2,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 87544? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 35% 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 87544 (Los Alamos, NM). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Los Alamos, NM 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 $583,809
Monthly Rent $2,838
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 87544

Population: 13,806

💰 Median Household Income
$130,368
This area
$130,368
State
$55,880
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.2%
This area
35.2%
State
21.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-32.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
70.0%
This area
70.0%
State
-18.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.1 years
This area
41.1 years
State
-44.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
29.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.5%
Other/Mixed 15.1%
Hispanic/Latino 11.0%
Asian 7.2%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
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 87544

A Avg School Grade
6 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,273 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

ASPEN ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 Per Student
A Very Good

LOS ALAMOS MIDDLE

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 Per Student
A Very Good

BARRANCA MESA ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 Per Student
A Very Good

MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LOS ALAMOS HIGH

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
864 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TOPPER FRESHMAN ACADEMY

📚 Grade 09 High School
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,273 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

1 Nearby 232 Off-Campus Students
C
University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus
376 students · 6.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Los Alamos, NM stack up for property investment?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Los Alamos, NM ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $584K and rents of $2,838/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the typical rental rate in Los Alamos, NM?

Rent in Los Alamos, NM is around $2,838/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $584K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Los Alamos, NM?

Los Alamos, NM sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NM rental market.

Is Los Alamos, NM a friendly market for rental owners?

Los Alamos, NM operates under NM law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How do home values compare in Los Alamos, NM?

The median home value in Los Alamos, NM is roughly $584K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NM statewide average.

You know 87544 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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