The Town FilesChurch Rock, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 1,542 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $39,100
- Household income
- $35,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 32.1
Church Rock is a community of 1,542 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $39,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of New Mexico towns.
How Church Rock 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 Church Rock is worth $39,100, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $35,083, which is more affordable than 98% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Church Rock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $39,100 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $780 | $916 |
| Median household income | $35,083 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Church Rock
| People | Church Rock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.4% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.9% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.7% | 82.9% |
Weather in Church Rock
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 12.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.6 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Church Rock since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EFU, struck on May 13, 2023 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 21, 1997.
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 Church Rock itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Church Rock
1 public school with 325 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE A. MILLER ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 325 | 17.1 |
Towns near Church Rock
- Sundance, NM5.5 mi · 760 people · home $52,800
- Iyanbito, NM6.0 mi · 1,193 people · home $49,300
- Gallup, NM10.3 mi · 21,899 people · home $165,200
- Gamerco, NM10.7 mi · 1,343 people · home $99,600
- Yah-ta-hey, NM13.0 mi · 757 people · home $28,200
- Twin Lakes, NM13.6 mi · 1,004 people · home $56,500
- Rock Springs, NM15.1 mi · 807 people · home $18,000
- Tohatchi, NM21.4 mi · 785 people · home $56,700
Church Rock questions
Is Church Rock, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Church Rock scores better for retirees than 7% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 28%. 9.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Church Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Church Rock is valued at $39,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,083, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Church Rock?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.5 inches of precipitation a year and 20.6 inches of snow.
Does Church Rock get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Church Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EFU on May 13, 2023. 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)