McKinley County, New Mexico Demographics 2026

Population Overview

McKinley County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 71,172. It is the 8th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in McKinley County is 34.1 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 39.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McKinley County is $44,496. This is 28% lower than the state median of $62,125. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 43% lower. The poverty rate stands at 35.7%. This is 97% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.4%. This is 57% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $72,100. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $232,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, McKinley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

McKinley County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 8.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (8.0%) is well below the state average of 36.5%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (12.2%) is well below the state average of 48.1%.

Education

12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 30.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.9%.