The 88130 zip code in Portales, New Mexico tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in the West.
We looked at 2074 zip codes in the region, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in the West
The West includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portales, NM 🥇 | 96.2 | $143,585 | $965 |
| 2 | Clovis, NM🥈 | 87.3 | $161,584 | $1,255 |
| 3 | Gillette, WY 🥉 | 84.6 | $361,109 | $1,255 |
| 4 | Lovington, NM | 84.5 | $177,713 | $1,540 |
| 5 | Hobbs, NM | 83.4 | $191,228 | $1,337 |
| 6 | Roswell, NM | 81.1 | $141,993 | $1,540 |
| 7 | Ridgecrest, CA | 80.6 | $269,193 | $1,389 |
| 8 | Fairbanks, AK | 80.6 | $312,297 | $1,853 |
| 9 | Vail, AZ | 77.6 | $407,194 | $1,992 |
| 10 | Sahuarita, AZ | 77.5 | $338,535 | $1,915 |
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1. Portales, New Mexico
Here's why the 88130 zip code in Portales is the region's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Portales
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 96.2 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $143,585[1] | No. 2 | -$407,250.94 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.7 | No. 3 | -3.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 5.5%[2] | No. 3 | -20.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.1%[3] | No. 10 | -1.7% |
| Rental costs | $965[4] | No. 1 | -$949 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.84% | No. 5 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $52,434[5] | No. 43 | -$38,312 |
| Property taxes | $633[6] | No. 2 | -$2,486 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[7] | No. 9 | -$0.04 |
Portales's 88130 zip code is the cheapest place to live in the West, leading the 2074 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $143,585, making it the 2nd-cheapest housing market in the region. Forecasts project a -2.1% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $965 per month, which is the 5th-cheapest amount in the West.
The median property tax for homeowners in Portales is $633 per household, the No. 2 ranked market in the West.
Residents pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 9 among the region's markets.
2. Clovis, New Mexico
The 88101 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in the West.
🔎 Key data about Clovis
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 87.3 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $161,584[8] | No. 4 | -$389,251.54 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.9 | No. 4 | -3.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 8.2%[9] | No. 4 | -18.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.3%[10] | No. 9 | -1.9% |
| Rental costs | $1,255[11] | No. 9 | -$660 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.22% | No. 19 | 0.1% |
| Median household income | $56,587[12] | No. 39 | -$34,159 |
| Property taxes | $1,065[13] | No. 9 | -$2,054 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[14] | No. 9 | -$0.04 |
Clovis's 88101 zip code has a median home value of $161,584, which is the 9th-cheapest housing market in the West. You can rent for an average of $1,255 per month. That's the 9th-cheapest price in the region.
The average household income in the zip code is $56,587, which ranks 39th-highest in the West.
Homeowners in Clovis pay a median property tax of $1,065 per year, making it the 9th-most affordable market in the region.
Clovis ranks No. 9 among the region's energy markets. You'll pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
3. Gillette, Wyoming
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in the West is Gillette's 82718 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Gillette
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.6 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $361,109[15] | No. 11 | -$189,727.31 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.5 | No. 2 | -2.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.1%[16] | No. 5 | -4.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.7%[17] | No. 4 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,255[18] | No. 7 | -$660 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.20% | No. 1 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $104,458[19] | No. 2 | $13,712 |
| Property taxes | $1,803[20] | No. 10 | -$1,316 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[21] | No. 5 | -$0.04 |
The No. 11 cheapest housing market in the West is Gillette's 82718 zip code, with a median home value of $361,109. Rents in the market average $1,255 per month, making it the 7th-most affordable rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in Gillette is $1,803, which makes it the 10th-cheapest place in the West. Gillette ranks No. 5 among the region's markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity.
4. Lovington, New Mexico
The 88260 zip code in Lovington comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in the West.
🔎 Key data about Lovington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.5 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $177,713[22] | No. 6 | -$373,122.79 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.4 | No. 1 | -3.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 29.9%[23] | No. 18 | 3.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -7.9%[24] | No. 1 | -7.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,540[25] | No. 21 | -$374 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.26% | No. 20 | 0.2% |
| Median household income | $75,476[26] | No. 18 | -$15,270 |
| Property taxes | $947[27] | No. 7 | -$2,172 |
| Energy costs | $0.10 kWh[28] | No. 7 | -$0.06 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing market in the West is Lovington's 88260 zip code, where the median home value is $177,713. Renters here pay an average of $1,540 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Lovington ranks 7th among the region's markets. Residents pay $0.10 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $947, which makes it the 7th-cheapest market in the West.
5. Hobbs, New Mexico
The 88240 zip code in Hobbs ranks No. 5 among the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Hobbs
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 83.4 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $191,228[29] | No. 7 | -$359,607.52 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.0 | No. 5 | -3.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 29.9%[30] | No. 18 | 3.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -7.1%[31] | No. 2 | -6.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,337[32] | No. 12 | -$578 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.11% | No. 16 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $63,270[33] | No. 27 | -$27,476 |
| Property taxes | $908[34] | No. 5 | -$2,211 |
| Energy costs | $0.10 kWh[35] | No. 7 | -$0.06 |
Hobbs's 88240 zip code has a median home value of $191,228, the 7th-cheapest market in the region. Forecasts project a -7.1% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Hobbs is $908. It's the 5th-cheapest market by tax rate in the West.
6. Roswell, New Mexico
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in the West is the 88203 zip code in Roswell.
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🔎 Key data about Roswell
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 81.1 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $141,993[36] | No. 1 | -$408,843.39 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 8 | -2.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 4.6%[37] | No. 2 | -21.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.4%[38] | No. 3 | -3.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,540[39] | No. 21 | -$374 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.26% | No. 20 | 0.2% |
| Median household income | $42,207[40] | No. 53 | -$48,539 |
| Property taxes | $743[41] | No. 4 | -$2,376 |
| Energy costs | $0.13 kWh[42] | No. 12 | -$0.04 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Roswell's 88203 zip code, which has the 1st-cheapest home values in the West. The median home value is $141,993. Rents average $1,540 per month, making it the 21st-most affordable rental market in the region.
Residents pay $0.13 per kWh of electricity. It's the 12th-cheapest energy market.
7. Ridgecrest, California
Ridgecrest's 93555 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in the West.
🔎 Key data about Ridgecrest
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 80.6 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $269,193[43] | No. 12 | -$281,642.70 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 1 | -2.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.9%[44] | No. 222 | -9.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.8%[45] | No. 955 | 1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,389[46] | No. 15 | -$526 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.60% | No. 21 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $86,700[47] | No. 656 | -$4,046 |
| Property taxes | $2,351[48] | No. 53 | -$768 |
| Energy costs | $0.25 kWh[49] | No. 247 | $0.09 |
You'll find the 12th-cheapest home values in the West in Ridgecrest's 93555 zip code. The median value: $269,193. Renters in Ridgecrest pay an average of $1,389 per month.
Homeowners in Ridgecrest pay a median property tax of $2,351 per year, which is the region's 53rd-most affordable market.
The average household income is $86,700, which ranks 656th-highest in the West.
8. Fairbanks, Alaska
The 8th-cheapest place to live in the West is Fairbanks's 99712 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Fairbanks
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 80.6 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $312,297[50] | No. 3 | -$238,539.43 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.8 | No. 1 | -3.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 4.4%[51] | No. 1 | -22.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.0%[52] | No. 1 | -1.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,853[53] | No. 12 | -$62 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.86% | No. 10 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $112,808[54] | No. 5 | $22,062 |
| Property taxes | $3,574[55] | No. 5 | $455 |
| Energy costs | $0.30 kWh[56] | No. 19 | $0.14 |
The 3rd-cheapest housing market in the West is Fairbanks's 99712 zip code, with a median home value of $312,297. Renters pay an average of $1,853 per month, the No. 12 rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in Fairbanks is $3,574, which makes it the 5th-cheapest place in the West. The average household income of $112,808 ranks 5th.
9. Vail, Arizona
Vail's 85641 zip code sneaks into the top ten of the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Vail
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 77.6 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $407,194[57] | No. 95 | -$143,642.40 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 2 | -2.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 22.0%[58] | No. 23 | -4.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.4%[59] | No. 144 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,992[60] | No. 140 | $77 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.52% | No. 8 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $131,164[61] | No. 12 | $40,418 |
| Property taxes | $3,076[62] | No. 167 | -$43 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[63] | No. 31 | -$0.02 |
The 95th-cheapest housing market in the West is Vail's 85641 zip code, where the median home value is $407,194. Renters pay an average of $1,992 per month. It's the region's 140th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $3,076, which makes it the 167th-cheapest property tax rate in the West.
10. Sahuarita, Arizona
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in the West goes to the 85629 zip code in Sahuarita.
🔎 Key data about Sahuarita
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 2074 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 77.5 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $338,535[64] | No. 48 | -$212,300.90 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.1 | No. 1 | -2.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 24.5%[65] | No. 55 | -2.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.4%[66] | No. 144 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,915[67] | No. 128 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.75% | No. 37 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $109,253[68] | No. 41 | $18,507 |
| Property taxes | $2,223[69] | No. 129 | -$896 |
| Energy costs | $0.15 kWh[70] | No. 37 | -$0.02 |
The 48th-most affordable housing market in the West is Sahuarita's 85629 zip code. The median home value is $338,535. Rent in the market costs $1,915 per month on average, making it the 128th-most affordable rental market in the West.
The median property tax for households in Sahuarita is $2,223, which is the 129th-cheapest property tax rate in the region.
Sahuarita ranks No. 37 among West markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.15 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in the West
We evaluated 2074 zip codes in the West with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a region by zip code.
Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Methodology: What is an Affordability Score?
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in the West, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
