HaystackNM
250 residents make their home in this town in New Mexico.
Is Haystack a good place to live?
28% of residents live below the poverty line in Haystack, above both the New Mexico town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 74 New Mexico towns we compare, none has a higher home-ownership rate than Haystack. 26% of the land in Haystack is conserved, above both the New Mexico town median (3.9%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Haystack has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
250 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Haystack: who provides what
Haystack is unincorporated, so McKinley County and regional agencies provide most services.
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 Haystack.
Conservation land takes up nearly a quarter of Haystack
Haystack’s density of trails is put at 0.3 miles per square mile. 1.3 miles of trail.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Haystack
In July, afternoons reach 87°; in January, nights fall to 16°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Haystack has a low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
FEMA puts 73% of Haystack’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 16% to cold waves. On expected storm and flood damage, Haystack sits below 65% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
More of Haystack’s adults smoke cigarettes than in the typical New Mexico or U.S. town
Among 74 New Mexico towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who had a checkup this year than Haystack. Nearly two fifths of Haystack adults get no exercise outside work. This New Mexico town beats the New Mexico average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 27.
| Haystack | Typical New Mexico town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 26% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 14% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 17% | 14% |
| What stands out | Haystack | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5% | 7.4% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 35.2% | 11% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Haystack
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Haystack
About 5 of every 100 Haystack residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico.
Questions about Haystack
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Haystack, NM a good place to live?
Haystack has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.