The Town FilesTwin Lakes, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 1,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,500
- Household income
- $25,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 44.9
Twin Lakes is a community of 1,004 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $56,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 83% of New Mexico towns, quieter than 82% of New Mexico towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of New Mexico towns.
How Twin Lakes 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 Twin Lakes is worth $56,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $25,938, which is more affordable than 82% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $485 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Twin Lakes | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $485 | $916 |
| Median household income | $25,938 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Twin Lakes
| People | Twin Lakes | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 50.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 37.5% | 82.9% |
Weather in Twin Lakes
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 27.0 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
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Twin Lakes 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 Twin Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 17.8%.
Towns near Twin Lakes
- Yah-ta-hey, NM3.9 mi · 757 people · home $28,200
- Rock Springs, NM5.7 mi · 807 people · home $18,000
- Gamerco, NM7.8 mi · 1,343 people · home $99,600
- Tohatchi, NM11.1 mi · 785 people · home $56,700
- Gallup, NM11.8 mi · 21,899 people · home $165,200
- Church Rock, NM13.6 mi · 1,542 people · home $39,100
- Sundance, NM14.0 mi · 760 people · home $52,800
- Window Rock, AZ16.4 mi · 2,500 people · home $84,900
Twin Lakes questions
Is Twin Lakes, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Twin Lakes scores better for retirees than 12% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 82%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Twin Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Twin Lakes is valued at $56,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,938, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $485 a month.
What is the weather like in Twin Lakes?
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 27.0 inches of snow.
Does Twin Lakes get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Twin Lakes 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)