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City · 7,450 residents · Valencia County, New Mexico

Belen , New Mexico

In Belen, a typical home is worth $166,100 and typical rent is $916 a month. Compared with all of Valencia County, typical household income is 28% lower, the typical home value is 26% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $166,100

    26% below the county

    33% below New Mexico

    • Belen
    • Valencia
    • New Mexico

  • Typical rent

    $916a month

    10% below the county

    14% below New Mexico

    • Belen
    • Valencia
    • New Mexico

  • Typical household income

    $42,627a year

    28% below the county

    33% below New Mexico

    • Belen
    • Valencia
    • New Mexico

  • Households that own their home

    73%

    10 points below the county

    3 points above New Mexico

    • Belen
    • Valencia
    • New Mexico

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$271,920
2.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Belen is in Valencia County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Valencia County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Belen apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in El Cerro Mission, the typical home value is $115,300: 31% less than in Belen ($166,100).

  2. The typical household income in Belen is $42,627, 28% less than in Valencia County as a whole ($58,933).

  3. The typical home in Belen is worth $166,100, 26% less than in Valencia County as a whole ($223,000).

  4. 73% of households in Belen own their home, against 83% in Valencia County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Belen

What homes there are in Belen, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Belen: 67% of homes, more than in Valencia County (63%).

Year built

Homes in Belen are older: the typical year built is 1979; in Valencia County, 1989.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Valencia County is high ($541,287): at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Belen are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,267 a month

Valencia County: $1,390 a month

Without a mortgage

$383 a month

Valencia County: $421 a month

Owners with a mortgage

46%

Valencia County: 52%

In Belen, 46% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,267 a month, against $1,390 in Valencia County. Without one it drops to $383.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Belen rose 56% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Valencia County (56%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Belen rose 25%, more than in Valencia County (16%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBelenValencia CountyNew MexicoUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.2%3.3%3.4%
People per household 2.662.782.482.53
Drive alone 75%75%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate11%12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Valencia County, a household in Belen has 2.66 people on average.

In Belen, 75% of workers drive alone to work; in Valencia County, 75%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Belen?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Belen, worth $166,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Belen, which is $42,627 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $57,795 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Valencia County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Belen. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,814 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,349

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$163,091
Total interest
$234,650
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,805 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $995 a month

  • Tight

    $995 to $1,279 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,279 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Belen ($42,627 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,349
Principal & interest$1,105
Property tax$101
Home insurance$69
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$73

You need at least $5,814 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Belen and Valencia County

Belen is in Valencia County, New Mexico. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Belen's own numbers

Typical home value
$166,100
Typical monthly rent
$916
Typical yearly household income
$42,627
Households that own their home
73%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Valencia County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,384
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+65%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
46%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Valencia County.

Everything about Valencia County

Buying

Buying a home in Belen

A typical home in Belen is worth $166,100: 26% below the county and 33% below New Mexico. With the typical household income in Belen ($42,627 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Belen 3.9 years
  • Valencia 3.8 years
  • New Mexico 3.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Valencia County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Valencia County rose 102% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Valencia County.

Period County New Mexico U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.8% +3.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +102% +82% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Belen next to Valencia County, New Mexico and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Belen $166,100
  • Valencia $223,000
  • New Mexico $248,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Belen $916
  • Valencia $1,015
  • New Mexico $1,067
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Belen $42,627
  • Valencia $58,933
  • New Mexico $64,059
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Belen next to Valencia County and New Mexico
Measure Belen Valencia County New Mexico U.S.
Typical home value $166,100 $223,000 $248,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $916 $1,015 $1,067 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $42,627 $58,933 $64,059 $80,734
Households that own their home 73% 83% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,216 $1,374 $1,731 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.73% 0.62% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 56% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Valencia County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Belen

For a typical $166,100 home in Belen, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Belen's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,349a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,814
    Cash to close
    $10,797
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $73

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,318a month

    Down payment
    $8,305
    Cash to close
    $13,288
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $79

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,070a month

    Down payment
    $33,220
    Cash to close
    $38,203
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,224a month

    Down payment
    $24,915
    Cash to close
    $29,898
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Belen and for Valencia County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Belen

0.73%of the home’s value each year

$1,216 a year for the typical owner in Belen.

  • Belen 0.73%
  • Valencia 0.62%
  • New Mexico 0.7%

What New Mexico publishes 3 percent cap on the yearly increase in your home's taxable value (New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee ("Property Taxes in New Mexico" brief))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Mexico

Flood risk in Valencia County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Valencia County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
46%
14,722
Of those, with NFIP insurance
14%
County New Mexico U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 46% 5.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 14% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Belen

Typical rent in Belen is $916 a month: 10% below the county. In Belen, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Valencia County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,384 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.62 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Valencia County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $977 $18.79 $39,080
1 bedroom $1,112 $21.38 $44,480
2 bedrooms $1,384 $26.62 $55,360
3 bedrooms $1,902 $36.58 $76,080
4 bedrooms $2,242 $43.12 $89,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Belen

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Belen has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,320 in 87002 to $1,380 in 87031.

None is above the fair market rent for Valencia County ($1,384).

  • 87002 $1,320$1,840
  • 87031 $1,380$1,920

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Belen when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Belen

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Belen. These are the largest.

  • Belen Vista Apts 531 Christopher Dr, Belen 87002 56 low-income homes · For families (505) 864-7999
  • Casa Valencia Apts 1200 Court St, Belen 87002 39 low-income homes · For families (505) 864-8477
  • Westside Apts 721 Christopher Dr, Belen 87002 24 low-income homes
  • John Apts 312 No Where, Belen 87002

See all 15 buildings in Valencia County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Belen

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Valencia County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Belen

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Belen or Valencia County. The ones below are statewide in New Mexico: they work in Belen the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Mexico

  • FirstDown

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed-rate second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers, together with the FirstHome mortgage. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • HomeNow

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed $7,000 second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of low-income first-time buyers; no monthly payments and forgivable after 10 years. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • FirstDown Plus

    Statewide in New Mexico

    New Mexico state agency fixed $10,000 third loan at 0%, for the down payment only, added to FirstDown or HomeNow; repaid in monthly installments over 15 years. Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Belen

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Belen, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Tiwa Lending Services

    117A Tribal Road 40, Isleta · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (505) 916-0556

  • United South Broadway Corporation

    1500 Walter St SE, Albuquerque · 23 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    (505) 764-8867

  • Homewise, Inc.

    500 2nd St. SW, Albuquerque · 23 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL).

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (505) 243-6566

All counseling agencies in New Mexico

Help in Spanish near Belen

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Belen

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Valencia County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in New Mexico Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Valencia County

These cities are also in Valencia County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Valencia County Housing in New Mexico

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Belen, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Valencia County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Belen.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about Belen

Short answers with the numbers for Belen and all of Valencia County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Belen?

The typical home value in Belen is $166,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Valencia County it is $223,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Belen?

Typical rent in Belen is $916 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Valencia County is $1,384.

What is the FHA loan limit in Belen?

Belen uses the FHA limit for all of Valencia County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Belen?

The typical homeowner in Belen pays $1,216 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Valencia County, the rate is 0.62%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Belen?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Valencia County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).