$187,656Average Value$105Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Quiet community on the U.S.-Mexico border
Naco is a sleepy border town in southern Arizona, and according to resident Bruce Kuehnle, that sleepiness is the major draw. “It’s quiet, and there’s not a lot going on. I love living here,” he says. He moved here in 2018 and now owns Bisbee RV Park at Turquoise Valley on the town’s north side. “I came here from Sante Fe, which is 10 to 15 times bigger. It’s a completely different world in this small town. Now I sleep with my door unlocked, and I know that I can count on my neighbors. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. People were really nice to me when I moved here, and that’s still the case today.” This friendly community has a population around 1,000, and most people work in neighboring Bisbee, Sierra Vista and Douglas. Its sister city in Mexico, also called Naco, is walkable across the southern border. Besides the wall that separates them, the two towns go hand in hand.
This town wasn’t always so quiet, though. During the Mexican Revolution of the 1910s, Naco served as the main passageway for the El Paso and Southwestern rail lines into Mexico. It was a frequent hotspot for smugglers, ranching and copper mining. As a result of the town's growing population, Soldiers from the Ninth and Tenth Calvary set up a camp here to preserve the peace. The famous 25th Infantry, an African American division known as the Buffalo Soldiers, later served in their stead. In 1919, the U.S. War Department’s Mexican Border Defense Construction Project constructed a permanent fort as part of a 1,200-mile chain along the border. The fort was decommissioned in 1923, but its adobe structures remain as a public historical site.
The Naco neighborhood is a sleepy border town in southern Arizona.
Naco homes sit on sizable lots with plenty of space in the front and backyards.
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Ranch-style homes in the Chihuahuan Desert
Ranch-style homes in Naco come with a view. “One of my favorite things about living here is the sunsets and the scenery,” Kuehnle says. “if you live in Sierra Vista or Bisbee, the sun goes over the tops of the mountains in the afternoon, and you can’t see it as much. Here you have an open desert, so you get a clearer view when it goes down.” Most of these homes are traditional with brick or siding exteriors, common with the style of the 1980s. Others are more like villas with colorful stucco and arched entryways. While these properties vary from street to street, they have a median lot size of 13,000 square feet, and backyards are sizeable. Fences surround most lots, allowing for further privacy between neighbors. Driveways are usually big enough for a single car. However, wide, paved roads transition to gravel on either side, so on-street parking is common. Landscaping is minimal because of the desert climate, but mesquite trees provide shade around most homes. Listings are rare, but they start at $200,000 and can reach $480,000 with more square footage. Mobile home parks are on Naco’s western and northern sides, and properties are available at $400,000. The town’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Naco has charming homes with mid size trees complementing the area.
The Naco neighborhood does feature some grand, two-story homes.
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Gay 90's and restaurants across the border
Named after one of the most prosperous decades in American history, Gay 90's is the only bar on the town’s U.S. side. This storied building was built in the 1900s as a casino but added alcohol after prohibition ended in the ‘30s. Today, its wood-paneled walls pay tribute to the town’s history with pictures of Buffalo Soldiers and Mexican revolutionists; its chipped counter also hosts a lot of regulars. Patrons can walk across the border for more restaurants, less than a quarter mile away. Asadero Los Molcajetes — in English, “mortar and pestle grill” — has counter-serve tacos and tall specialty drinks. Just down the street, Siete Restaurante has upscale breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring big steaks and burgers. Pemex, the closest gas station, is in this area as well. Safeway is the nearest grocery store, about 5 miles north in San Jose. Touristy restaurants and shops are 5 miles farther north into Bisbee.
Walkable to Naco Elementary, driveable to Bisbee High
Naco Elementary is toward the middle of town and serves roughly 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Niche gives it a D-minus. Its campus was renovated in August 2024 with new schoolwide flooring and an updated gymnasium. For later grades, students can travel about 8 miles north to Bisbee High. This school gets a C-plus from Niche and has roughly 350 students. Its baseball team won its sixth state championship in 2024, a major comeback from its six-win season in 2021.
Wallyball, where the U.S. and Mexico both play on home turf
Naco’s border wall used to be a makeshift volleyball net. Municipal officers and other residents put differences aside and played games across the wall starting in 1979, hitting a “wallyball” between the U.S. and Mexico. Soon it was an annual tradition between the two cities, and crowds gathered every year to watch. The tradition continued until 2007, when the border wall increased in height and stopped the games. Naco has other recreation spaces, though, such as Enrique A. Martan Bustamente Park on the Mexico side. This park has a playground and covered picnic areas, and fields for baseball and soccer are nearby. On the U.S. side, the closest green spaces are near Bisbee and the Mule Mountains. The latter has miles of hiking trails and peaks around 7,500 feet.
U.S. Port of Entry and state Route 92
Since Naco, Arizona, is only about 3 square miles, most people walk around town. The U.S. Port of Entry has a walkway for pedestrians, too, so dentists and pharmacies are a few paces south. However, residents usually drive for groceries and Bisbee’s Copper Queen Community Hospital. Naco Highway is the main route to these hubs, as it connects north to state Route 92. Using this two-lane road across the desert, Naco residents are about 35 miles southeast of Sierra Vista and about 100 miles southeast of Tucson. Bisbee’s bus system operates through Naco, and it runs every other hour, Monday through Saturday.
Naco is the sister city of the neighborhood just a few paces south of the border.
Naco is a tight-knit border community and a family-friendly neighborhood right along Route 92.
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On average, homes in Naco, AZ sell after 74 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Naco, AZ over the last 12 months is $161,600, up 4% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Unique and well-maintained home ready for your enjoyment. All the work has been done. High ceilings, large double pane windows bring in the natural light. A beautiful, large modern kitchen with custom cabinets, countertops and newer appliances. Wood floors and custom tile throughout; no carpet. 8 ceiling fans, large laundry room with window & closet. Gas furnace & evaporative cooler plus
Discover the perfect blend of historic charm & modern convenience in this one of a kind 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home located in the heart of Naco, Arizona. This home is ideally situated for professionals who work in Naco, Mexico, offering a convenient & quick commute. Investors will appreciate the strong rental potential & growing appeal of the area. Enjoy the serene ambiance of Naco from your
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