Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
A $526,000 home here costs
$3,887per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $166,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,868. The real number is $1,019 higher every month, 36% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Taos County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Arroyo Seco from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,107 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Taos County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Arroyo Seco against Taos County and New Mexico
| Measure | Arroyo Seco | Taos County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $525,500 | $354,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,093 | $1,164 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.398% | 0.329% |
| Median gross rent | $1,687 | $1,069 |
| Population | 2,107 | 34,516 |
The weather behind that power bill
Arroyo Seco sits in Taos County, which averages a high of 83.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.9°F in its coldest, with 13.37" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 130 cooling and 7,384 heating degree days, which is what sets the $108 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Taos County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Taos County
Full Taos County cost breakdown · Every county in New Mexico
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Arroyo Seco averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Arroyo Seco every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Arroyo Seco I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Arroyo Seco?
A $526,000 home in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico costs approximately $3,887 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,868 principal and interest, $174 property tax, $231 homeowners insurance, $176 utilities and $438 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Arroyo Seco?
Arroyo Seco has an effective property tax rate of 0.398%, based on a median home value of $525,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,093. That is higher than the Taos County average of 0.329%.
What is the average home price in Arroyo Seco?
The median owner-occupied home value in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico is $525,500, against $354,000 across Taos County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Arroyo Seco?
Median gross rent in Arroyo Seco is $1,687 a month, against $3,887 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Arroyo Seco?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $166,500 a year. That covers the full $3,887 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Arroyo Seco, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for New Mexico.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.