J.-B.-Moore-Crystal-Trading-Post-with-Navajo-Rug, 1911
Crystal’s story
123 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1911.
- 1903Crystal is settled
CrystalNM
A town settled in 1903, now home to 287 people.
Population
287
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$89K
Census ACS
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
35.5
years
Land area
4 sq mi
Is Crystal a good place to live?
34% of residents live below the poverty line in Crystal, above both the New Mexico town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 71 in New Mexico we compare has a lower midpoint rent than Crystal. Crystal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
287 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Getting set up
Moving to Crystal: who provides what
Crystal is unincorporated, so McKinley County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerNavajo Tribal Utility Authority16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCrystal Community Boarding School BiaNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesMcKinley CountyMcKinley County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn New Mexico you can register online until 28 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Juan County ClerkSan Juan County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code8732887328 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 27, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Crystal.
Schools
The schools Crystal’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by Crystal Boarding School. Enrollment at the town’s public school: 54 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Boarding SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 54 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Crystal stands out in New Mexico and nationally, with a typical July afternoon cooler than most
Crystal brings chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 84° and January nights drop to 16°.
84°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–42°
Spring31–60°
Summer51–82°
Fall34–63°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
84°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults report frequent physical distress in Crystal than in most of New Mexico or the rest of the country
Only 2 of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare have a higher share of adults who feel lonely than Crystal. 37% of adults say their health is fair or poor in the town. Also worth knowing: on the CDC’s 32 measures, Crystal is ahead of New Mexico on 1 and behind on 25. Two figures for adults locally: 28% smoke cigarettes, 19% have diabetes.
| Crystal | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 26% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
1 better6 too close to call25 worse
| What stands out | Crystal | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.5% | 7.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 38.6% | 14.2% |
Fort Defiance Indian Hospital
10.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Crystal: inland flooding
Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 52% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts nearly two thirds of Crystal’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 15% to cold waves.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesWildfire
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,911 acres
5.3 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Crystal
17pages on Crystal
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Crystal; the nearest are
Dine CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Tsaile, AZ22.2 mi$1,410 in-state tuitionUniversity of New Mexico-Gallup CampusCommunity college · Public · Gallup39.3 mi$2,906 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Crystal residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico.
About Crystal
Census-designated place in New Mexico, US
Crystal (Navajo: Tóniłtsʼílí) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on the Navajo Nation in San Juan and McKinley counties in New Mexico, United States. The population was 302 at the 2020 census. It is located along the base of the Chuska Mountains, at the western end of Narbona Pass. The McKinley County portion of Crystal is part of the Gallup Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the San Juan County portion is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. A post office operated at Crystal from 1903 to 1941.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,523 ft
Questions about Crystal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Crystal, NM a good place to live?
Crystal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.