City Report · NM

Los Alamos

Pop. 13,317·1st most expensive in New Mexico·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,554/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+0.3%
vs US Median
+$622
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Los Alamos · $2,554
More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,554/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$102,000/yr
Local median income
$141,018/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Los Alamos's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$990
1 BR
$1,100
2 BR
$1,400
3 BR
$1,890
4 BR+
$2,350
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,400/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,554 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($141,018) is $3,525 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,350).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Los Alamos. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$30,648/yr
At $2,554/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Los Alamos, NM is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 69.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
13,317
Median income
$141,018
Median age
38.8
Renters
33.5%
Age distribution
20.2%
22.4%
25.7%
14.3%
17.4%
Under 1820.2%
18–3422.4%
35–5425.7%
55–6414.3%
65+17.4%
Gender
53.6%
46.4%
Male53.6%
Female46.4%
Race & ethnicity
74.1%
17.9%
White74.1%
Black0.8%
Hispanic17.9%
Asian6.3%
Other0.9%
Education (25+)
18.3%
69.8%
No HS diploma2.4%
HS diploma9.5%
Some college18.3%
Bachelor's+69.8%
Housing tenure
66.5%
33.5%
Owner66.5%
Renter33.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Los Alamos, NM has changed in 5 years

Income
$118,293 → $141,018
up 19.2%
Population
13,270 → 13,317
up 0.4%
Renter share
32.8% → 33.5%
+0.7 pts
Bachelor's+
69% → 69.8%
+0.8 pts
Median age
41.4 → 38.8
-2.6 yrs

Median household income climbed from $118,293 to $141,018 between 2021 and 2024, a 19.2% shift.

Community

Discussions about Los Alamos

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View Los Alamos rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Los Alamos on your salary?

At $2,554/mo, how Los Alamos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Los Alamos rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Los Alamos. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Los Alamos

About renting in Los Alamos, NM

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Los Alamos is $2,554/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,400/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,100/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,890/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($141,018/yr), Los Alamos ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Los Alamos?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,554/mo in Los Alamos. The local median household income is $141,018/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Los Alamos?

Rent in Los Alamos has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Los Alamos rent compare to other cities in New Mexico?

Los Alamos is one of the pricier among New Mexico cities for rent, ranking #1 of 15 tracked cities at $2,554/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Los Alamos?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Los Alamos ($2,554/mo) include Albuquerque ($1,452/mo), Rio Rancho ($1,867/mo), and Santa Fe ($1,956/mo).
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,554/mo, rent takes ~22% of Los Alamos's median household income ($141,018/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Los Alamos 22%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.7–5.9%
Run the Los Alamos affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Los Alamos, NM

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