The Town FilesTohatchi, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 785 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,700
- Household income
- $48,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 33.3
Tohatchi is a community of 785 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $56,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of New Mexico towns, better for families than 83% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 71% of New Mexico towns.
How Tohatchi 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 Tohatchi is worth $56,700, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $48,125, which is more affordable than 98% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $585 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tohatchi | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,700 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $585 | $916 |
| Median household income | $48,125 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Tohatchi
| People | Tohatchi | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 33.9 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.8% | 82.9% |
Weather in Tohatchi
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 11.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.9 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 196 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Tohatchi 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 Tohatchi itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Tohatchi
3 public schools with 904 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOHATCHI HIGH | 9-12 | 400 | 16.7 |
| TOHATCHI MIDDLE | 6-8 | 262 | 3.9 |
| TOHATCHI ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 242 | 17.3 |
Towns near Tohatchi
- Twin Lakes, NM11.1 mi · 1,004 people · home $56,500
- Yah-ta-hey, NM15.0 mi · 757 people · home $28,200
- Rock Springs, NM16.2 mi · 807 people · home $18,000
- Navajo, NM16.2 mi · 1,942 people · home —
- Gamerco, NM18.9 mi · 1,343 people · home $99,600
- Fort Defiance, AZ18.9 mi · 3,541 people · home $37,400
- Window Rock, AZ21.2 mi · 2,500 people · home $84,900
- Church Rock, NM21.4 mi · 1,542 people · home $39,100
Tohatchi questions
Is Tohatchi, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tohatchi scores better for retirees than 38% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 62%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Tohatchi?
The median owner-occupied home in Tohatchi is valued at $56,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,125, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $585 a month.
What is the weather like in Tohatchi?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26.9 inches of snow.
Does Tohatchi get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Tohatchi 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)