The Town FilesPrewitt, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 842 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $19,074
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.0
Prewitt is a community of 842 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 85% of New Mexico towns.
How Prewitt 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
99.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prewitt | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $19,074 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 99.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Prewitt
| People | Prewitt | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 35.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.7% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 54.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 30.1% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 43.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 58.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Prewitt
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 12.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.6 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 205 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Prewitt since 1950.
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 Prewitt itself the ACS puts it at 24.7%.
Towns near Prewitt
- Thoreau, NM8.0 mi · 2,367 people · home $95,200
- Milan, NM15.7 mi · 2,456 people · home $75,500
- Grants, NM20.2 mi · 9,163 people · home $136,500
- San Rafael, NM21.0 mi · 1,164 people · home $120,400
- Iyanbito, NM25.4 mi · 1,193 people · home $49,300
- Crownpoint, NM25.7 mi · 2,900 people · home $61,100
Prewitt questions
Is Prewitt, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prewitt scores better for retirees than 13% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 45%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
What is the weather like in Prewitt?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.2 inches of precipitation a year and 30.6 inches of snow.
Does Prewitt get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Prewitt in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)