The Town FilesCrownpoint, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 2,900 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $61,100
- Household income
- $51,011
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 33.9
Crownpoint is a community of 2,900 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $61,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 99% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 94% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of New Mexico towns.
- #1 in The 16 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Mexico
- #10 in The 22 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Mexico
- #13 in 16 Small Towns in New Mexico With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #36 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #37 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #39 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Crownpoint ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Crownpoint is worth $61,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $51,011, which is more affordable than 98% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $593 a month. 43.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crownpoint | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $61,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $593 | $916 |
| Median household income | $51,011 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 43.9% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Crownpoint
| People | Crownpoint | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 60.0% | 82.9% |
Weather in Crownpoint
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 8.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Crownpoint since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EFU, struck on June 14, 2024 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2024.
Severe weather in McKinley County since 1996
McKinley County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2013 | Flood | DR-4152: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2010 | Flood | DR-1936: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1659: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McKinley County
McKinley County had 19,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,226 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Crownpoint itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Crownpoint
3 public schools with 876 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CROWNPOINT HIGH | 9-12 | 370 | 19.5 |
| CROWNPOINT ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 264 | 14.7 |
| CROWNPOINT MIDDLE | 6-8 | 242 | 18.6 |
Crownpoint questions
Is Crownpoint, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crownpoint scores better for retirees than 47% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 22%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Crownpoint?
The median owner-occupied home in Crownpoint is valued at $61,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,011, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $593 a month.
What is the weather like in Crownpoint?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Crownpoint get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Crownpoint since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EFU on June 14, 2024. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)