What it's like to live in Gallup
Gallup is a small city in New Mexico with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Gallup deals with county unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High student-teacher ratio
How Gallup compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Gallup
Based on Gallup's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,854
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $37,080 a year
- 43% of Gallup renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$33,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $16,520
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 34% below US
$927/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $927 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $165,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $165,200 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in McKinley County is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
McKinley County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 292% above US
1291 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 4287/100k · Gallup Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 21% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 35% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is El Morro National Monument (40 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Gallup's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($927/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Gallup
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