Renting · Section 8
Data from November 2026
Renting in Luna County, New Mexico
Luna County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,014 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $650 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $19.50 an hour, full time.
Four numbers to start with
- Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
- $1,014
- a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
- 21% less than in New Mexico
- Typical rent
- $650
- a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
- 39% less than in New Mexico
- Wage needed
- $19.50
- an hour, 2 bedrooms
- Or $40,560 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
- Rent-burdened households
- 50%
- spend 30% or more of income on rent
- About the same as in New Mexico
Only here
Renting in Luna County: what sets it apart
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
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Of the 30 counties in New Mexico with this figure, Luna County has the lowest typical rent: $650.
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Of the 32 counties in New Mexico with this figure, Luna County has the lowest typical household income: $36,419.
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Luna County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $650, less than any of its 5 neighboring counties; next is Sierra County ($729).
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17% of households in Luna County have no internet at home, against 10% in New Mexico.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
Fair market rent
What HUD sets for each size
Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Luna County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.
The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)
| Size | Fair rent per month | Hourly wage | Income needed per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $709 | $13.63 | $28,360 |
| 1 bedroom | $782 | $15.04 | $31,280 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,014 | $19.50 | $40,560 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,325 | $25.48 | $53,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,399 | $26.90 | $55,960 |
HUD area: Luna County, NM. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
The fair market rent for your ZIP code
HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 2 ZIP codes in Luna County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.
For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,010 in 88029 to $1,020 in 88030. 1 ZIP code is above the county's fair market rent ($1,014).
Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)
| 88029 | $710 | $780 | $1,010 | $1,330 | $1,410 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88030 | $710 | $790 | $1,020 | $1,330 | $1,410 |
- 88029 $1,010$1,330
- 88030 $1,020$1,330
Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Luna County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in New Mexico, 50%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
50%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
2,686 households rent in Luna County
- Spend half or more of their income 23%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 27%
- Spend less than 30% 50%
Compared with the state and the country
- Luna 50%
- New Mexico 50%
- United States 51%
Low-income apartments
Low-income apartments in Luna County
HUD lists 11 properties with homes for low-income households in Luna County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC) and HUD-assisted buildings. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.
- with tax credits (LIHTC)
- 9
- HUD-assisted
- 4
435 homes in all; 391 of them low-income, according to HUD.
- Desert Sun Apts II Tax credit (LIHTC) 1101 8th St NW, Deming 88030 56 homes, 55 low-income · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 24 · 4 bd: 16 · In service since 2004
- Deming Manor Tax credit (LIHTC) · HUD-assisted 1000 S Zinc St, Deming 88030 52 homes, 51 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2004 · For families · (575) 894-2244
- Mountain View Apts NM Tax credit (LIHTC) · HUD-assisted 1101 S Shelly Dr, Deming 88030 48 low-income homes · For older adults · (575) 546-6619
- Retirement Planning Company HUD-assisted 700 S Clark St, Deming 88030 46 low-income homes · For older adults · (575) 546-9323
- Mariposa Village Tax credit (LIHTC) 901 S Tennyson Dr, Deming 88030 60 homes, 45 low-income · 1 bd: 36 · 2 bd: 24 · In service since 2003 · For older adults
- Desert Sun Apts I Tax credit (LIHTC) 1201 8th St NW, Deming 88030 41 homes, 40 low-income · 3 bd: 21 · 4 bd: 20 · In service since 2001
- La Paloma del Sol Tax credit (LIHTC) 601 S Santa Monica St, Deming 88030 38 low-income homes · In service since 1992
- La Palona del Sol Phase II Tax credit (LIHTC) 1400 E Birch St, Deming 88030 38 homes, 37 low-income · In service since 1994
- Rio Mimbres Apts II Tax credit (LIHTC) 1608 S Tin St, Deming 88030 24 low-income homes · In service since 1992
- Gateway Estates HUD-assisted 1601 S Lead St, Deming 88030 8 homes, 7 low-income · For people with disabilities · (575) 544-0737
- Sierra Vista 2011 Tax credit (LIHTC) 878 N Iron St, Deming 88030 24 homes
2 properties have two programs at the same address and appear once. Search HUD's map
Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.
Section 8
The Section 8 voucher in Luna County
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. A public housing agency runs it. HUD lists none with an office in Luna County; the state's agencies can help you. Here is what the rules say:
The rules, with their source
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You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. Source: HUD
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Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). Source: 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)
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Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). Source: 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)
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If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. Source: 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)
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When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. Source: 24 CFR §982.508
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Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. Source: 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)
| People | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $25,550 | $40,850 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $29,200 | $46,650 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $32,850 | $52,500 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $36,450 | $58,300 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $39,400 | $63,000 |
| 6 people | $42,300 | $42,300 | $67,650 |
| 7 people | $45,200 | $45,200 | $72,300 |
| 8 people | $48,150 | $48,150 | $77,000 |
Area median income: $48,300. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Luna County, NM. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026
Possible payment standard
- Studio $638 – $780
- 1 bedroom $704 – $860
- 2 bedrooms $913 – $1,115
- 3 bedrooms $1,193 – $1,458
- 4 bedrooms $1,259 – $1,539
The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.
Housing agencies that serve this place
HUD lists no housing agency with an office in Luna County. You can apply at another agency in your state: you do not have to live where you apply. Source: HUD
Your rights as a tenant in New Mexico
What New Mexico law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleCompare these rules with other states →
A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 3 days
- NMSA 1978, §47-8-33(D)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- NMSA 1978, §47-8-37(A)-(B)
- Only a court order can remove youNMSA 1978, §47-8-36; §47-8-33
Help
Where to get help with rent in Luna County
This is the nearest HUD-approved agency. They counsel for free or at low cost.
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Tierra del Sol Housing
210 E Idaho Ave, Las Cruces · 57 miles away · Spanish
- Mortgage delinquency and default
- Budget and financial counseling
- and 7 more
Tool
How much cash do you need to move in?
It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Luna County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.
Count power on top of the rent: in New Mexico, the average home bill was $93 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs
Your move
We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.
Adjust advanced details
Let's do the math
Cash to move in
$2,028
What you need before you get the keys.
What adds up
- First month
- $1,014
- Security deposit
- $1,014
- Total
- $2,028
When you'll have it
Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.
What helps
- Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
- On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
- Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fair market rent in Luna County?
According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $709; 1 bedroom: $782; 2 bedrooms: $1,014; 3 bedrooms: $1,325; 4 bedrooms: $1,399. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.
How much do you need to earn to rent in Luna County?
Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,014) without spending more than 30% of income takes $19.50 an hour full time, or $40,560 a year.
Who qualifies for Section 8 in Luna County?
Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $36,450 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.
How much does Section 8 pay in Luna County?
The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $913 and $1,115 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.
Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Luna County?
For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,010 in 88029 to $1,020 in 88030. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.
How many low-income apartments are there in Luna County?
HUD lists 11 properties with homes for low-income households in Luna County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC) and HUD-assisted buildings. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.
How many households spend too much on rent in Luna County?
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Luna County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in New Mexico, 50%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).