City Report · NM

Silver City

Pop. 9,536·13th most expensive in New Mexico·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,371/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$561
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Silver City · $1,371
More affordable than 83% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
42% of income
STRETCHED
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,371/mo, rent takes about 42% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$55,000/yr
Local median income
$38,711/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Silver City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$770
1 BR
$770
2 BR
$960
3 BR
$1,280
4 BR+
$1,320
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$960/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,371 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: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($38,711) is $968 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($960); a 3-bedroom is $1,280.

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

Annual cost
$16,452/yr
At $1,371/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, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Silver City, NM is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 35.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
9,536
Median income
$38,711
Median age
40.8
Renters
39.5%
Age distribution
22%
18.4%
21.8%
25.9%
Under 1822%
18–3418.4%
35–5421.8%
55–6411.9%
65+25.9%
Gender
47.1%
52.9%
Male47.1%
Female52.9%
Race & ethnicity
62%
48.8%
White62%
Black0.7%
Hispanic48.8%
Asian2.1%
Education (25+)
25.5%
32%
35.8%
No HS diploma6.8%
HS diploma25.5%
Some college32%
Bachelor's+35.8%
Housing tenure
60.5%
39.5%
Owner60.5%
Renter39.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Silver City, NM has changed in 5 years

Income
$31,451 → $38,711
up 23.1%
Population
9,694 → 9,536
down 1.6%
Renter share
50.5% → 39.5%
-11.0 pts
Bachelor's+
27.6% → 35.8%
+8.2 pts
Median age
38 → 40.8
+2.8 yrs

Median household income climbed from $31,451 to $38,711 between 2021 and 2024, a 23.1% shift. Census counts show Silver City, NM losing about 158 residents over the five-year window, down 1.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 50.5% to 39.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.6% to 35.8% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Silver City

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View Silver City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Silver City on your salary?

At $1,371/mo, how Silver City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Silver City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Silver City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Silver City

About renting in Silver City, NM

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Silver City is $1,371/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,280/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($38,711/yr), Silver City ranks as moderate 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 Silver City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,371/mo in Silver City. The local median household income is $38,711/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Silver City?

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

How does Silver City rent compare to other cities in New Mexico?

Silver City is one of the more affordable among New Mexico cities for rent, ranking #13 of 16 tracked cities at $1,371/mo.
Income Affordability
42%
STRETCHED

At $1,371/mo, rent takes ~42% of Silver City's median household income ($38,711/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Silver City 42%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.7–5.9%
Run the Silver City affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Silver City, NM

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