McKinley County, New Mexico Demographics 2026
McKinley County, New Mexico has a population of 70,431, the 8th most populous county in New Mexico. The median household income is $47,668 and the median home value is $78,700. The poverty rate is 33.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
McKinley County Quick Facts
How McKinley County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,172 | 70,431 | -1.0% |
| Median household income | $44,496 | $47,668 | +7.1% |
| Median home value | $72,100 | $78,700 | +9.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 63 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in McKinley County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallup | 21,023 | $58,303 | 26.8% | $165,200 |
| Zuni Pueblo | 5,864 | $45,724 | 29.9% | $81,700 |
| Crownpoint | 2,882 | $51,011 | 31.5% | $61,100 |
| Navajo | 2,181 | $32,208 | 51.6% | N/A |
| Thoreau | 1,973 | $45,469 | 27.5% | $95,200 |
| Church Rock | 1,381 | $35,083 | 33.7% | $39,100 |
| Iyanbito | 1,233 | $52,500 | 32.2% | $49,300 |
| Gamerco | 1,176 | $48,977 | 52.0% | $99,600 |
| Black Rock | 1,125 | $46,000 | 38.9% | $101,100 |
| Prewitt | 1,027 | $19,074 | 54.4% | N/A |
| Rock Springs | 1,013 | $97,155 | 10.9% | $18,000 |
| Twin Lakes | 893 | $25,938 | 50.2% | $56,500 |
| Tohatchi | 750 | $48,125 | 31.3% | $56,700 |
| Fort Wingate | 726 | $250,000+ | 29.6% | N/A |
| Williams Acres | 643 | $40,539 | 52.7% | N/A |
| Sundance | 585 | $32,000 | 45.1% | $52,800 |
| White Cliffs | 581 | $74,148 | 11.9% | N/A |
| Crestview | 580 | $126,678 | 1.4% | $228,300 |
| Pinedale | 575 | N/A | 57.0% | $39,900 |
| Yah-ta-hey | 507 | $44,068 | 25.8% | $28,200 |
| Ojo Encino | 470 | $28,953 | 71.9% | $92,600 |
| Jamestown | 439 | $145,172 | 14.1% | $157,800 |
| Ramah | 407 | $112,564 | 49.4% | $165,400 |
| Brimhall Nizhoni | 367 | $55,417 | 38.1% | $65,000 |
| Catalpa Canyon | 302 | N/A | 12.3% | N/A |
| Bluewater | 275 | $122,750 | 0.0% | $337,900 |
| Nakaibito | 251 | $27,917 | 45.4% | $67,500 |
| Haystack | 250 | N/A | 28.4% | $106,300 |
| Becenti | 235 | $55,833 | 18.3% | $53,100 |
| Continental Divide | 231 | $61,284 | 11.3% | N/A |
| Sagar | 197 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Pueblo Pintado | 187 | $41,250 | 29.9% | N/A |
| Purty Rock | 133 | $61,250 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Borrego Pass | 129 | $33,333 | 61.2% | $85,000 |
| Timberlake | 110 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Tse Bonito | 93 | N/A | 16.1% | $17,800 |
| Vanderwagen | 61 | N/A | 44.3% | N/A |
| Manuelito | 27 | $33,750 | 48.1% | N/A |
| Pinehaven | 8 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Black Hat | 2 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Homer C Jones | 2 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore New Mexico Rankings
Population Overview
McKinley County is located in New Mexico with a total population of 70,431. It is the 8th most populous county out of 33 in New Mexico. The county encompasses 41 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in McKinley County is 34.6 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 39.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in McKinley County is $47,668. This is 26% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 33.2%. This is 86% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. 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 9.0%. This is 52% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $78,700. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $248,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, McKinley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.8% 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 36.0%. 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 48.4%.
Education
13.3% 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 57% lower than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for McKinley County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Mexico and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of McKinley County, New Mexico?
McKinley County has a population of 70,431, making it the 8th most populous county in New Mexico.
What is the median income in McKinley County?
The median household income in McKinley County is $47,668 with a poverty rate of 33.2%.
How many cities are in McKinley County, New Mexico?
McKinley County contains 41 Census-designated places.