Cost of Living in McKinley County, New Mexico
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How McKinley County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McKinley County ranks #650 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 21%)
Sourced county brief
McKinley County Median Home Value Estimated at $78,700
The median home value in McKinley County was estimated at $78,700, which is $114,027 below the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $192,727. For renter households, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 24.8%. This figure is 3.6 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.4%. The median gross rent for the county is $859 per month, compared to the state unweighted mean of $905. Median monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied housing units are $360, which is $351 below the New Mexico unweighted county mean of $711. The median renter-household income is $43,202. These statistics are published as part of the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Metadata for this profile includes dataVersion acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1, last reviewed on 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: McKinley County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.8% of renter household income in McKinley County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $859 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $360. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $34,360 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New Mexico unweighted mean of county median rents is $905 per month. McKinley County's $859 median is 5.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McKinley County
Rent Burden
21.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,112
per month
Owner Cost Burden
9.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in McKinley County
Median home value is $78,700. Estimated monthly cost: $628 vs. your max of $1,112.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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