Rents are 3% above what Roswell's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,263 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Roswell is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.
Rent in Roswell changed +8.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 12 New Mexico cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($51,583) is $1,290 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,030); a 3-bedroom is $1,330.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Roswell. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Roswell, NM is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 18.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Roswell, NM has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Roswell, NM stood at $1,106 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,263, reflecting a 14.2% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Roswell, NM now reports about $51,583, up from $46,034 in 2021. The population has contracted by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 48,347 residents to roughly 47,638. Renters now make up 31.4% of households, compared with 36.5% five years ago. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Roswell, NM reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $1,263/mo, how Roswell rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Roswell rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Roswell. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Roswell
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Roswell is $1,263/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,330/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($51,583/yr), Roswell ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Roswell?
Is rent going up or down in Roswell?
How does Roswell rent compare to other cities in New Mexico?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Roswell?
At $1,263/mo, rent takes ~29% of Roswell's median household income ($51,583/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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