The Town FilesRock Springs, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $18,000
- Household income
- $97,155
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.6
Rock Springs is a community of 807 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $18,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 96% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 94% of New Mexico towns, better for young professionals than 82% of New Mexico towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Mexico
- #2 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #2 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in New Mexico With the Cheapest Homes
- #8 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #8 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Rock Springs 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 Rock Springs is worth $18,000, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 0.2 times the median household income of $97,155, which is more affordable than 100% of New Mexico towns. 97.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock Springs | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $18,000 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $97,155 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.7% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.0% | — |
Who lives in Rock Springs
| People | Rock Springs | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 46.4% | 82.9% |
Weather in Rock Springs
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 14.2°F. About 10.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.8 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 198 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Rock Springs since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 26, 2026.
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 Rock Springs itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Rock Springs
- Yah-ta-hey, NM2.5 mi · 757 people · home $28,200
- Gamerco, NM5.2 mi · 1,343 people · home $99,600
- Twin Lakes, NM5.7 mi · 1,004 people · home $56,500
- Gallup, NM8.9 mi · 21,899 people · home $165,200
- Sundance, NM13.3 mi · 760 people · home $52,800
- Window Rock, AZ13.3 mi · 2,500 people · home $84,900
- St. Michaels, AZ15.0 mi · 1,384 people · home $202,500
- Church Rock, NM15.1 mi · 1,542 people · home $39,100
Rock Springs questions
Is Rock Springs, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock Springs scores better for retirees than 8% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 23%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Rock Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock Springs is valued at $18,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,155, so homes cost about 0.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Rock Springs?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 14.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.7 inches of precipitation a year and 33.8 inches of snow.
Does Rock Springs get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Rock Springs 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)