The Town FilesYah-ta-hey, New Mexico
Community in McKinley County · population 757 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $28,200
- Household income
- $44,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 50.0
Yah-ta-hey is a community of 757 people in McKinley County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $28,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks easier by car than 100% of New Mexico towns, more of a college town than 96% of New Mexico towns, better for young professionals than 87% of New Mexico towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Mexico
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in New Mexico With the Cheapest Homes
- #20 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #20 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
- #22 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #22 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Yah-ta-hey 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 Yah-ta-hey is worth $28,200, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 0.6 times the median household income of $44,068, which is more affordable than 99% of New Mexico towns. 96.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yah-ta-hey | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $28,200 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | — | $916 |
| Median household income | $44,068 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.6× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 96.7% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Yah-ta-hey
| People | Yah-ta-hey | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 15.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 46.6 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 53.9% | 82.9% |
Weather in Yah-ta-hey
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
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Yah-ta-hey since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. The strongest, an EFU, struck on May 13, 2023 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2023.
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 Yah-ta-hey itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Yah-ta-hey
1 public school with 251 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEE DODGE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 251 | 19.3 |
Towns near Yah-ta-hey
- Rock Springs, NM2.5 mi · 807 people · home $18,000
- Twin Lakes, NM3.9 mi · 1,004 people · home $56,500
- Gamerco, NM4.4 mi · 1,343 people · home $99,600
- Gallup, NM8.4 mi · 21,899 people · home $165,200
- Sundance, NM11.9 mi · 760 people · home $52,800
- Church Rock, NM13.0 mi · 1,542 people · home $39,100
- Tohatchi, NM15.0 mi · 785 people · home $56,700
- Window Rock, AZ15.4 mi · 2,500 people · home $84,900
Yah-ta-hey questions
Is Yah-ta-hey, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yah-ta-hey scores better for retirees than 8% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 20%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Yah-ta-hey?
The median owner-occupied home in Yah-ta-hey is valued at $28,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,068, so homes cost about 0.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Yah-ta-hey?
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 Yah-ta-hey get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Yah-ta-hey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EFU on May 13, 2023. 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)