Median Income
$28,160
household / year
Median Home Value
$50,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$593
gross / month
Cost of Living
84
national avg = 100

Is Navajo, NM a Good Place to Live?

Navajo is a small town of 2,071 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $28,160 and a 19.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

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

All Navajo 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: 83.7

Navajo's overall cost of living index is 83.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Navajo costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric Navajo, NM National Avg
Median Home Value $50,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $593 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 4.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $28,160 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Navajo's violent crime rate is 503.0 per 100,000 residents — 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
503.0 /100k
Property Crime
1298.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Navajo is served primarily by GALLUP.

Metric Navajo, NM National Avg
School District GALLUP —
Elementary Schools 16 —
Middle Schools 7 —
High Schools 9 —
Student/Teacher Ratio N/A 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 6.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 81.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Navajo sees average highs of 45.3°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 11.3 inches of annual precipitation and 33.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricNavajo, NM
Average High — January45.3°F
Average High — July88.4°F
Annual Precipitation11.3"
Annual Snowfall33.8"

Demographics

MetricNavajo, NMNational Avg
Population2,071—
Median Age22.038.9
Unemployment Rate19.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time27.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)0.3%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.5%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1843.6%22.2%
65 and over6.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Navajo vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Navajo's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Navajo roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $50,800 and median rent is $593/month.
Navajo's violent crime rate is 503.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1298.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Navajo are operated by GALLUP. The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools. 6.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Navajo, NM has a population of 2,071, a median household income of $28,160, and an unemployment rate of 19.3%. 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.
Navajo averages 45.3°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.3 inches with about 33.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Navajo, New Mexico is 2,071 with a median age of 22.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Navajo: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $50,800, median household income $28,160, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Navajo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.