Census-designated place · New Mexico
Thoreau, New Mexico
Thoreau, census-designated place, in McKinley County, New Mexico. Thoreau had 2,367 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,973 (±348). GEOID 3577530.
Residents, 2020 Census
2,367
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 1,973 ±348
Median household income
$45,469
±$11,121 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $64,059
Median home value
$95,200
±$34,555 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $248,100
Median gross rent
$483
±$66 (90% margin)
New Mexico: $1,067
Where is Thoreau and what county is it in?
Thoreau is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in McKinley County, New Mexico. It covers 39.5 square miles of land, 60 residents per square mile in 2020.
Thoreau is in the Gallup, NM micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Thoreau, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,367 residents in Thoreau, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 1,973 (±348).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Thoreau is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Thoreau | McKinley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,973 ±348 | 70,431 | no clear change |
| Households | 627 ±109 | 21,353 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.15 ±0.38 | 3.25 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 782 ±103 | 25,304 | +194 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Thoreau?
The median resident of Thoreau is 34.8 years old; 24.3% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 86.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 5.2%.
| Measure | Thoreau | McKinley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 ±5.5 | 34.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.3% ±6.4 pts | 27.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.3% ±5.4 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Male | 50.1% ±7.3 pts | 48.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.1% ±4.2 pts | 12.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 5.2% ±3.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 86.2% ±5.8 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±1.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 50.6% ±8.8 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±2.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.9% ±5.9 pts | 16.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 19.5% ±5.5 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.8% ±5.9 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 4.2% ±2.5 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 98.7% ±1.4 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Thoreau earn?
Half of Thoreau's 627 households earn less than $45,469 a year (±$11,121), against $47,668 in McKinley County and $64,059 in New Mexico. In 2015-2019 the median was $24,358 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $21,111 after inflation. 27.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Thoreau | McKinley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,469 ±$11,121 | $47,668 | +$21,111 |
| Mean household income | $59,272 ±$9,810 | $62,961 | – |
| Per capita income | $19,920 ±$2,447 | $20,856 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.5% ±9.8 pts | 33.2% | −33.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 25.2% ±12.7 pts | 42.5% | −60.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 30.3% ±10.1 pts | 37.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.1% ±5.4 pts | 82.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 56.1% ±11.4 pts | 64.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Thoreau?
Owners occupy 80.2% of Thoreau's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $95,200 by its owner (±$34,555). The median renter pays $483 a month including utilities, and 65.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Thoreau | McKinley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $95,200 ±$34,555 | $78,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $483 ±$66 | $859 | −$346 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 65.7% ±35.8 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,538 ±$578 | $1,319 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.2% ±10.3 pts | 69.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.8% ±10.3 pts | 30.2% | – |
| Housing units | 782 ±103 | 25,304 | +194 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.6% ±5.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6% ±2.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.2% ±10.0 pts | 63.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 29.5% ±10.0 pts | 25.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±5.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.1% ±4.6 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.9% ±3.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.1% ±8.9 pts | 10.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Thoreau work and get to work?
78.9% of Thoreau's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 46.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.8%.
| Measure | Thoreau | McKinley County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 45.5% ±6.5 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.8% ±5.9 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.9% ±10.9 pts | 79.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.7% ±3.8 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±6.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±1.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.6% ±10.9 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 46.5 min ±5.1 | 27.0 min | +15.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Thoreau?
1 census tract lies mostly in Thoreau, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9460.01McKinley County | 2,003 | $39,097 |
| Tract 9460.03McKinley County | 1,969 | $24,375 |
| Tract 9460.02McKinley County | 1,852 | not published |
| Tract 9731McKinley County | 1,559 | $84,464 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Thoreau) · Census block assignment files
How does Thoreau compare with other places in New Mexico?
Thoreau ranks 108th of 143 places in New Mexico with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 97th | 153 |
| Residents per square mile | 150th | 155 |
| Median household income | 108th | 143 |
| Per capita income | 131st | 154 |
| Median home value | 122nd | 138 |
| Median gross rent | 113th | 114 |
| Poverty rate | 34th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 128th | 128 |
| Median age | 110th | 154 |
| Owner-occupied share | 66th | 150 |
| Travel time to work | 1st | 150 |
Thoreau's figures with every place in New Mexico (CSV)
Every place in New Mexico, sortable · Compare Thoreau with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Thoreau?
19 of the 57 figures for Thoreau on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Thoreau are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.