Thoreau is a small town of 2,361 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $30,125
and a 18.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Thoreau stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Thoreau is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Thoreau 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: 86.7
Thoreau's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Thoreau costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Thoreau, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$50,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$869
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Thoreau'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
Thoreau is served primarily by GALLUP.
Metric
Thoreau, 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
5.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Thoreau sees average highs of 47.6°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 12.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.6 inches of snow per year.
Thoreau's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Thoreau roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $50,700 and median rent is $869/month.
Thoreau'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 Thoreau are operated by GALLUP.
The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools.
5.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Thoreau, NM has a population of 2,361, a median household income of $30,125, and an unemployment rate of 18.2%.
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.
Thoreau averages 47.6°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.2 inches
with about 30.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Thoreau, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 87323.
The population of Thoreau, New Mexico is 2,361 with a median age of 26.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Thoreau: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $50,700, median household income $30,125, 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 Thoreau side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
