1st Advantage MortgageNavajo County households have a median income of $54,606 and median rent of $858 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Navajo County by the numbers
- What Navajo County households earn
- What it costs to live in Navajo County
- The Navajo County job picture
- The communities that make up Navajo County
- The counties around Navajo County
- Debt-to-income at Navajo County's medians
- Reading the Navajo County data as a borrower
- Navajo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Navajo County borrower's checklist
- Arizona rules that apply in Navajo County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Navajo County by the numbers
Navajo County is home to about 108,415 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 15 county-level areas in Arizona. Spread over 9,949 square miles, that works out to roughly 10.9 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Show Low is the biggest of its 48 Census places, at roughly 12,102 people (11% of the county total).
What Navajo County households earn
Navajo County households have a median income of $54,606 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 13th of 15 in Arizona.
| Yearly household income | Navajo County | Gap to Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.8% | +13.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -9.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.2 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. 24.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.5%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.456 here. A household earning below the $54,606 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Navajo County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $858 in Navajo County versus $1,543 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. Home values center on $201,500, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Housing | Navajo County | Arizona statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $858/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $201,500 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.1% | 9.3% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Navajo County job picture
By the Census industry count, 33% of employed Navajo County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 33% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.8% in Navajo County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 8.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Navajo County workers | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.6% | +10.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Public administration | 9.0% | +4.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.5% | -7.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Navajo County
The table lists the 14 largest of 48 Census places in Navajo County, by population. Together all 48 hold about 88,469 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. North Fork has the highest median household income on the list ($123,313) and Chilchinbito the lowest ($19,205), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Chilchinbito ($233) and steepest in Snowflake ($1,350). This guide covers each of the 48 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Low | city | 12,102 | $60,368 | $1,110 | 79 mi |
| Winslow | city | 8,773 | $58,346 | $1,051 | 33 mi |
| Snowflake | town | 6,444 | $76,174 | $1,350 | 61 mi |
| Kayenta | CDP | 4,927 | $58,423 | $772 | 92 mi |
| Holbrook | city | 4,858 | $56,502 | $905 | 35 mi |
| Whiteriver | CDP | 4,545 | $37,440 | $568 | 109 mi |
| Taylor | town | 4,183 | $90,275 | $743 | 67 mi |
| Pinetop-Lakeside | town | 4,101 | $60,694 | $1,200 | 88 mi |
| Heber-Overgaard | CDP | 3,621 | $58,542 | $730 | 69 mi |
| Lake of the Woods | CDP | 3,250 | $55,987 | $812 | 88 mi |
| White Mountain Lake | CDP | 2,910 | $50,263 | $628 | 75 mi |
| Linden | CDP | 2,502 | $98,038 | n/a | 78 mi |
| Cibecue | CDP | 2,228 | $25,791 | $909 | 94 mi |
| Joseph City | CDP | 2,153 | $75,227 | $1,089 | 30 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around Navajo County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (47 to 136 miles). Income ranges from $41,438 in Apache County to $72,966 in Coconino County; 3 of these neighbors top Navajo County's median. Some neighbors are in New Mexico. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Navajo County resident follows Arizona rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo County | - | $54,606 | $858/mo | 73% |
| Apache County, AZ | 47 mi | $41,438 | $647/mo | 79% |
| Coconino County, AZ | 87 mi | $72,966 | $1,473/mo | 60% |
| Gila County, AZ | 114 mi | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
| McKinley County, NM | 117 mi | $47,668 | $859/mo | 70% |
| Cibola County, NM | 135 mi | $50,759 | $759/mo | 76% |
| San Juan County, NM | 136 mi | $55,872 | $956/mo | 71% |
Debt-to-income at Navajo County's medians
How much room does a median Navajo County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Navajo County: $4,550
- Median rent: $858, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,099 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Navajo County's.
Reading the Navajo County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Navajo County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 16% of Navajo County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 25% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Navajo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Navajo County | Arizona | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
A Navajo County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Navajo County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Navajo County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arizona borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Arizona rules that apply in Navajo County
Navajo County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Arizona state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Arizona guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Navajo County?
$54,606 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $79,964 for Arizona. It ranks 13th of 15 in the state.
What do renters pay in Navajo County?
$858 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Should Navajo County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Navajo County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Navajo County?
By population: Show Low, Winslow, Snowflake, Kayenta, Holbrook. The county has 48 Census places in all.
Does living in Navajo County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Navajo County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.