General view of the Painted Desert from Tohatchi, New Mexico, ca.1900 (CHS-3268), c. 1900
Tohatchi’s story
128 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1900.
- 1898Tohatchi is settled
TohatchiNM
A town of 750, settled in 1898.
Photo: Peter K. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
750
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$57K
Census ACS
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
33.3
years
Jobs based here
110
Balanced
Is Tohatchi a good place to live?
31% of residents live below the poverty line in Tohatchi, above both the New Mexico town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 74 New Mexico towns, just 3 have a higher average trip to work than Tohatchi. Tohatchi’s trail density is 2.1 miles per square mile, where New Mexico’s towns sit at 1.0 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Tohatchi has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
750 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Tohatchi: who provides what
Tohatchi is unincorporated, so McKinley County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerNavajo Tribal Utility Authority16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChuska 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 hereMcKinley County ClerkMcKinley County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code8732587325 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 Tohatchi.
Schools
The schools Tohatchi’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Gallup school district. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tohatchi MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 297 | – |
| Tohatchi HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 279 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
In Tohatchi, expect four seasons and hot summers
Tohatchi has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. The July high in Tohatchi is 88°F.
21″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–45°
Spring34–65°
Summer56–86°
Fall37–66°
Oct 7
typical first frost
May 11
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
About one in three of Tohatchi’s working residents commute to Gallup
Most working residents leave Tohatchi for work: only 0% work in town. Jobs based in Tohatchi fell to 110 in 2023, 52 fewer than in 2013. Tohatchi’s median household income is $48,000.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Tohatchi0%
Gallup30%
St. Michaels12%
Albuquerque11%
Farmington6%
24 mi
median commute distance
110
jobs based in Tohatchi
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
Tohatchi stands out in New Mexico and nationally: a larger share of its adults smoke cigarettes
28% of adults smoke cigarettes in Tohatchi. Among 74 New Mexico towns, just 4 have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Tohatchi. 12% of adults binge drink in Tohatchi.
| Tohatchi | New Mexico towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 26% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. New Mexico
1 better7 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | Tohatchi | NM |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.4% | 7.4% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 23.9% | 11% |
Fort Defiance Indian Hospital
22.3 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
Tohatchi faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.
57risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesLightning
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 4,203 acres
14 mi
of trails · 2.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tohatchi
17pages on Tohatchi
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Tohatchi; the nearest are
University of New Mexico-Gallup CampusCommunity college · Public · Gallup23.6 mi$2,906 in-state tuitionNavajo Technical UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Crownpoint35.4 mi$4,346 in-state tuition
About 10 of every 100 Tohatchi residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Mexico.
About Tohatchi
Census-designated place in New Mexico, United States
Tohatchi is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. It is a health-services and education hub along Highway 491. Its population was reported to be 785 at the 2020 census. As Tohatchi is located on the Navajo Nation, it is designated federal trust land.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 6,447 ft
- ZIP code
- 87325
Questions about Tohatchi
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tohatchi, NM a good place to live?
Tohatchi has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.