Five Great Places to Move to in New Mexico
New Mexico may be one of the most creative states in the U.S. The culture blends Native American, Mexican, Spanish, and other European influences into a true melting pot. The cuisine is delicious and often spicy, the architecture unique, the air clean, and the skies clear.
You might think that New Mexico, being just north of Mexico, would be hot year-round, but you’d be mistaken. In parts of New Mexico the December and January average high temperature is about 43 degrees, rising to 86 degrees in July.
Over all, it has a lot to offer. Here are five great places to live in the Land of Enchantment.
Artesia
In New Mexico, Artesia is known as the “City of Champions,” and the city’s population of 12,000 may agree. Crime is low, homes are affordable, averaging $190,000, unemployment is on the low end, and the median household income is slightly higher than the rest of the state. You’ll get all four seasons, with hot summers up to about 93 degrees, to cold winters that go down to about 21 degrees. This is New Mexico, so it’s dry, and still trees give beauty and shade to most streets.
A great reason to live in this unassuming community is its proximity to some amazing places to visit. These include Roswell with all its alien-related sites and activities, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where you can check out more than 100 fascinating and gorgeous natural caves, Brantley Lake State Park, and Lincoln National Forest. Overall, it’s a lovely place to live for middle income individuals and families.
Corrales
Corrales is a lovely, tree-filled village of 8,600 residents near the Rio Grande River. Its primary industry is agriculture, but its proximity to Albuquerque means that residents also commute to the city to work lucrative jobs at companies like Intel Corp., SCHOTT Solar, and General Mills.
The median household income in Corrales is $80,600 while the median home value is $425,000. Homes are spaced out and most have yards. You might consider getting a home with a pool, or putting one in for those hot New Mexico summers.
Raising a family? Then you’ll find quality schools that do a great job of preparing their students for college, and you can feel safe as the village has low crime rates.
Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
If you’re looking for a home that feels like it’s out in the country but is close to its parent city, then this northern suburb of Albuquerque is for you. Los Ranchos De Albuquerque has beautiful, tree-lined streets and ranch style homes with plenty of surrounding land. It will cost a bit to buy a place here, but considering how much land you get, it’s well worth it. The median home value is $432,000. The median household income, however, is quite high at $62,000.
This is also a suburb where the intelligent and educated go to live. Most people, 92%, to be specific, 25 and over have at least graduated from high school, 49% have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 21 percent have a master’s or higher. Unemployment is also staggeringly low, at just 1.8 percent. This is a lovely place to raise a family, plus it’s close to all that Albuquerque has to offer.Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho is a larger community than the previous ones we’ve covered in this article, with a population of 94,000. If you love wide open spaces, though, you’ll be amazed at what you find here. The city has scattered neighborhoods and lots of countryside. The median home price is just $187,000 while the median household income is $60,000.
There are plenty of places to work here, as Rio Rancho is considered the economic hub of Sandoval County. For example, Intel is a major employer here. So, it’s a great place to raise a family, with good employers for moms and dads, and fun places to visit. One place families enjoy is A Park Above, with lots of fun playground equipment for the kids.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is considered a hub of art and creativity. Those who love architecture will appreciate the city’s buildings, which are reminiscent of Spanish design. There are also art galleries and boutiques, and frequent festivals.
The city has a population of 84,000. The median home value is reasonable, especially for a city and state capital, at $387,500, and the median household income is fairly good at $51,600.
If you’re looking for something interesting to do, check out the many art courses and related events. You’ll find at least several happening every month.
