1st Advantage MortgageMcKinley County households have a median income of $47,668 and median rent of $859 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving McKinley County, and confirm each one's New Mexico license.
On this page
- Population and place: McKinley County
- McKinley County at the extremes
- McKinley County housing compared with New Mexico
- Employment and commuting in McKinley County
- The $47,668 median and what sits around it
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- McKinley County communities by population
- Budget math at the McKinley County median
- Before borrowing in McKinley County
- McKinley County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
- Checklist for McKinley County applicants
- More guides for McKinley County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: McKinley County
McKinley County is home to about 70,431 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 8th most populous of 33 county-level areas in New Mexico. Spread over 5,451 square miles, that works out to roughly 12.9 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Gallup (21,023 people) heads the county's list of 43 Census places, 1 incorporated and 42 census-designated.
McKinley County at the extremes
Where McKinley County lands at the extremes of New Mexico's county rankings:
- On the uninsured rate, McKinley County sits near the top of New Mexico at 16.8%, the highest of 33. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Few New Mexico counties match McKinley County on the poverty rate: 33.2% here, 17.8% for the state, ranking the highest of 33. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- McKinley County ranks 2nd lowest of 33 New Mexico counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 13%, against 31% statewide. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- On households without a vehicle, McKinley County sits near the top of New Mexico at 10.7%, 2nd highest of 33. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
McKinley County housing compared with New Mexico
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $859 in McKinley County versus $1,067 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 44% in McKinley County, 50% statewide. McKinley County homes are worth $78,700 at the median, a 1.7-to-1 ratio to income. 70% of McKinley County households own their home and 30% rent.
| Home costs | McKinley County | New Mexico | Compared with New Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $859/mo | $1,067/mo | 19% lower |
| Median home value | $78,700 | $248,100 | 68% lower |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | -0.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 50% | -6.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 29% | -7.0 pts |
| Mobile homes | 25.0% | 15.5% | +9.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 16% | 12% | +3.1 pts |
Employment and commuting in McKinley County
Education and health care employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 36% locally and 26% for New Mexico. The survey's unemployment rate for McKinley County averages 9.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.0%). 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | McKinley County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.8% | +10.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.6% | -8.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The $47,668 median and what sits around it
At $47,668, the typical McKinley County household income is 27% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 24 New Mexico counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in McKinley County | Difference from New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.5% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -3.9 pts |
Some 41% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, McKinley County: 33.2%; New Mexico: 17.8%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the McKinley County median.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to McKinley County's, from 48 to 101 miles away. McKinley County's $47,668 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $41,438 (Apache County) to $86,636 (Sandoval County). Some neighbors are in Arizona. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a McKinley County resident follows New Mexico rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinley County | - | $47,668 | $859/mo | 70% |
| Cibola County, NM | 48 mi | $50,759 | $759/mo | 76% |
| San Juan County, NM | 64 mi | $55,872 | $956/mo | 71% |
| Apache County, AZ | 71 mi | $41,438 | $647/mo | 79% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 77 mi | $86,636 | $1,427/mo | 84% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 97 mi | $69,473 | $1,144/mo | 65% |
| Valencia County, NM | 101 mi | $58,933 | $1,015/mo | 83% |
McKinley County communities by population
Places, by size: the top 14 of 43. Roughly 28% of McKinley County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Fort Wingate ($250,001) and Prewitt ($19,074) mark the top and bottom of McKinley County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Thoreau ($483) and steepest in Fort Wingate ($1,101). No McKinley County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 43.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallup | city | 21,023 | $58,303 | $927 | 28 mi |
| Zuni Pueblo | CDP | 5,864 | $45,724 | $588 | 49 mi |
| Crownpoint | CDP | 2,882 | $51,011 | $593 | 12 mi |
| Navajo | CDP | 2,181 | $32,208 | $683 | 49 mi |
| Thoreau | CDP | 1,973 | $45,469 | $483 | 11 mi |
| Church Rock | CDP | 1,381 | $35,083 | $780 | 18 mi |
| Iyanbito | CDP | 1,233 | $52,500 | $642 | 14 mi |
| Gamerco | CDP | 1,176 | $48,977 | $860 | 29 mi |
| Black Rock | CDP | 1,125 | $46,000 | $726 | 46 mi |
| Prewitt | CDP | 1,027 | $19,074 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Rock Springs | CDP | 1,013 | $97,155 | n/a | 33 mi |
| Twin Lakes | CDP | 893 | $25,938 | $485 | 30 mi |
| Tohatchi | CDP | 750 | $48,125 | $585 | 33 mi |
| Fort Wingate | CDP | 726 | $250,001 | $1,101 | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the McKinley County median
DTI math using McKinley County medians ($47,668 income, $859 rent):
- $47,668 a year is $3,972 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $859, which is 22% of it
- $531: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $929 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in McKinley County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Before borrowing in McKinley County
A few patterns in the McKinley County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 17% uninsured. In McKinley County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Car trouble. For McKinley County drivers (20% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of McKinley County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 33% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
McKinley County households compared
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13% of McKinley County adults. About 17% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | McKinley County | +/- New Mexico | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.3% | -17.7 pts | -8.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 33.2% | +15.4 pts | +20.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 16.8% | +7.1 pts | +8.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 18.2% | +6.2 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 10.7% | +5.0 pts | +5.3 pts |
| Median age | 34.6 | -4.8 yrs | -6.9 yrs |
| Work from home | 8.9% | -3.3 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | +3.1 pts | +4.6 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Checking a lender's license in New Mexico
Consumer lenders serving McKinley County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New Mexico that is the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: New Mexico guide.
Checklist for McKinley County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in McKinley County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Mexico borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for McKinley County
No city in McKinley County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in McKinley County?
$47,668 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $64,059 for New Mexico. It ranks 25th of 32 in the state.
What do renters pay in McKinley County?
$859 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
How many towns are in McKinley County?
The Census Bureau counts 43 places mainly in the county, led by Gallup, Zuni Pueblo, Crownpoint, Navajo, Thoreau.
Can McKinley County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New Mexico county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a McKinley County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New Mexico it is the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division.