Retiring in Gallup
Retiring in Gallup offers genuinely affordable housing and New Mexico's real Social Security tax exemption, weighed against a real, disclosed elevated crime rate.
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Learn moreNew Mexico's real, hard-cliff Social Security exemption
New Mexico exempts Social Security from state tax only when AGI runs under $100,000 single/$150,000 MFJ -- a real, disclosed hard cliff, not a phase-out, and other retirement income remains fully taxable.
A genuinely affordable cost of living
Gallup's average home value ran approximately $181,497, well below the national median, though McKinley County's property tax rate (~1.20-1.26%) runs above the national median.
A real, disclosed crime consideration
Gallup's crime rate runs higher than 97% of New Mexico communities per NeighborhoodScout -- a factor retirees should weigh directly alongside its affordability.
Key takeaways
- New Mexico's Social Security exemption applies only below $100,000 single/$150,000 MFJ AGI -- a hard cliff.
- Gallup's housing runs genuinely below the national median, despite an above-median property tax rate.
- Gallup's real, elevated crime rate is a factor retirees should weigh directly.
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