The Town FilesShiprock, New Mexico
Community in San Juan County · population 7,718 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,400
- Household income
- $35,900
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 34.1
Shiprock is a community of 7,718 people in San Juan County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $104,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better transit than 81% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 72% of New Mexico towns.
How Shiprock 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 Shiprock is worth $104,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $35,900, which is more affordable than 65% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $694 a month. 49.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shiprock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,400 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $694 | $916 |
| Median household income | $35,900 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 49.1% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Shiprock
| People | Shiprock | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.9% | 82.9% |
Weather in Shiprock
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 7.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.1 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Shiprock since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 10, 2013 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 10, 2013.
Severe weather in San Juan County since 1996
San Juan County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Flood | EM-3660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 20, 2024 | Fire | DR-4795: South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in San Juan County
San Juan County had 46,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,008 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Shiprock itself the ACS puts it at 14.9%.
Public schools in Shiprock
7 public schools with 1,830 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHIPROCK HIGH | 9-12 | 539 | 13.5 |
| TSE BIT AI MIDDLE | 6-8 | 406 | 11.0 |
| MESA ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 260 | 15.3 |
| NIZHONI ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 253 | 12.0 |
| EVA B STOKELY ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 212 | 9.2 |
| CAREER PREP ALTERNATIVE | 9-12 | 136 | 11.3 |
| DREAM DINE CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-5 | 24 | 12.0 |
Towns near Shiprock
- Waterflow, NM12.8 mi · 1,554 people · home $167,400
- Nenahnezad, NM15.5 mi · 576 people · home $68,400
- Fruitland, NM17.0 mi · 771 people · home —
- Kirtland, NM18.3 mi · 585 people · home $291,300
- Ojo Amarillo, NM19.2 mi · 696 people · home —
- Upper Fruitland, NM21.3 mi · 1,623 people · home $86,200
- Teec Nos Pos, AZ22.6 mi · 507 people · home $79,700
- La Plata, NM28.3 mi · 2,105 people · home $210,000
Shiprock questions
Is Shiprock, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shiprock scores better for retirees than 19% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 14%. 12.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Shiprock?
The median owner-occupied home in Shiprock is valued at $104,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,900, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $694 a month.
What is the weather like in Shiprock?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.3 inches of precipitation a year and 8.1 inches of snow.
Does Shiprock get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Shiprock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 10, 2013. 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)