Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rock Springs, New Mexico
A $17,000 home here costs
$317per 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 $13,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $93. The real number is $224 higher every month, 242% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare McKinley County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Rock Springs from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,166 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 McKinley 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.
Rock Springs against McKinley County and New Mexico
| Measure | Rock Springs | McKinley County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $17,100 | $72,100 |
| Median property tax | — | $1,362 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.889% | 1.889% |
| Median gross rent | — | $810 |
| Population | 1,166 | 71,172 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rock Springs sits in McKinley County, which averages a high of 88.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.9°F in its coldest, with 10.7" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 475 cooling and 6,105 heating degree days, which is what sets the $108 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for McKinley County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in McKinley County
Full McKinley County cost breakdown · Every county in New Mexico
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rock Springs 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 Rock Springs every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rock Springs I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rock Springs?
A $17,000 home in Rock Springs, New Mexico costs approximately $317 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $93 principal and interest, $27 property tax, $7 homeowners insurance, $176 utilities and $14 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rock Springs?
Place-level tax data is not published for Rock Springs, so the McKinley County rate of 1.889% applies here.
What is the average home price in Rock Springs?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rock Springs, New Mexico is $17,100, against $72,100 across McKinley County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rock Springs?
Rent data is not published for Rock Springs at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Rock Springs?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rock Springs, New Mexico at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $13,500 a year. That covers the full $317 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rock Springs, 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.