What are the schools like in Chinle, AZ?

Chinle is served primarily by Chinle Unified District (4158). The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Chinle?

The median household income in Chinle, AZ is $44,821 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.4%.

What is the weather like in Chinle, AZ?

Chinle has an average high temperature of 43.8°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 8.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.9 inches.

Chinle, AZ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Chinle, AZ affordable or expensive?

Chinle's cost of living index is 80, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chinle is 20% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $34,100 and the median rent is $526 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Chinle, AZ?

Chinle has a violent crime rate of 84.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 210.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chinle, AZ a Good Place to Live?

Chinle is a small town of 3,888 in Arizona, with a median household income of $44,821 and a 11.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 80 (US average = 100), which is 20% below the national average.

Strengths: Chinle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Chinle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chinle city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 79.7

Chinle's overall cost of living index is 79.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chinle costs roughly 20% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chinle, AZ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$34,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$526	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,821	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Chinle's violent crime rate is 84.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

84.9 /100k

Property Crime

210.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Chinle is served primarily by Chinle Unified District (4158). The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chinle, AZ	National Avg
School District	Chinle Unified District (4158)	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chinle sees average highs of 43.8°F in January and 92.9°F in July, with 8.8 inches of annual precipitation and 4.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chinle, AZ
Average High — January	43.8°F
Average High — July	92.9°F
Annual Precipitation	8.8"
Annual Snowfall	4.9"

Demographics

Metric	Chinle, AZ	National Avg
Population	3,888	—
Median Age	32.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	3.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	33.1%	22.2%
65 and over	11.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Del Muerto, AZ 8 mi Many Farms, AZ 14 mi Nazlini, AZ 18 mi Cottonwood, AZ 18 mi Tsaile, AZ 23 mi

ZIP Codes in Chinle

Chinle, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

86503

Chinle vs Other Cities

Chinle, AZ vs Del Muerto, AZ Chinle, AZ vs Many Farms, AZ Chinle, AZ vs Nazlini, AZ Chinle, AZ vs Cottonwood, AZ Chinle, AZ vs Tsaile, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chinle, AZ affordable or expensive?

Chinle's cost of living index is 80, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chinle roughly 20% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $34,100 and median rent is $526/month.

What is the crime rate in Chinle, AZ?

Chinle's violent crime rate is 84.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 210.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chinle?

Public schools in Chinle are operated by Chinle Unified District (4158). The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chinle, AZ a good place to live?

Chinle, AZ has a population of 3,888, a median household income of $44,821, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Chinle?

Chinle averages 43.8°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.8 inches with about 4.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chinle?

Chinle, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 86503.

What is the population of Chinle?

The population of Chinle, Arizona is 3,888 with a median age of 32.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chinle?

Key numbers for living in Chinle: cost of living index 80 (100 = US average), median home $34,100, median household income $44,821, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chinle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.