Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Editor’s Note: Data has been updated for 2022. This is our ninth time ranking the best places to retire in New Mexico.

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  • Best Places To Retire In New Mexico
    • Detailed Breakdown Of The Top Ten
    • Methodology
    • Summary
    • Search By City In New Mexico
    • Where Are The Best Places To Retire In New Mexico?

If you're nearing the end of your career or have already retired and are looking for a change of scenery, consider the Land of Enchantment for your golden years.

There are plenty of things that make New Mexico a greater place for retirement. Whether you're a connoisseur of eye-popping sunsets, a UFO-enthusiast, or just a lover of chilies both red and green, New Mexico has loads to keep you satisfied during your work-free years. Combine that with being among the states with the lowest rent in America, and you'll have even more expendable cash on hand to enjoy all New Mexico has to offer. If you want to see the best sunsets in a state already known for them, White Sands National Monument is a must-visit, while if you're trying to get away from the sun, going down into Carlsbad Caverns might be more your speed.

So where should you lay down your briefcase in New Mexico? Well, if you'd like to live next door to George R.R. Martin and Val Kilmer, Los Alamos is your best bet. Whereas if you're trying to see Julia Roberts out on Main Street, you'll have to retire in Taos. If you've always had "going to a rodeo" on your bucket list, Ruidoso is the place to be. Whatever your priorities are in retirement, this list has options, both near and far from New Mexico's better-known cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

New Mexico will leave you enchanted no matter where you decide to retire, but these are the places that will offer the absolute most to retirees.

  1. Las Vegas
  2. Taos
  3. Sunland Park
  4. Dexter
  5. Bloomfield
  6. Carlsbad
  7. Aztec
  8. Albuquerque
  9. Gallup
  10. Farmington

Why did Las Vegas take the top spot? And where are Albuquerque and Farmington?

It wasn't easy to narrow down the best spots to retire in New Mexico. But by looking for the places with low cost of living and crime rates, combined with the best weather, activities, and access to the airport, we determined where folks can find the most fulfillment in their retirement.

What's the best place to retire in New Mexico for 2022? According to the latest data, Las Vegas is the absolute best place in the state for retirees.

If you're a little worried that New Mexico is too far from the family, be sure to look for overlap between this list and our list of best cities to raise a family. It could just be a win-win for every generation.

Didn't see the city you were looking for in the top ten? Check out the list below to see how each city ranked for retirement.

For more New Mexico state reading:

  • Best Places To Live In New Mexico
  • Cheapest Places To Live In New Mexico
  • Best Places To Raise A Family In New Mexico
  • Best Places To Retire In America

The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Mexico For 2022

Population: 13,055
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $609
Distance to Closest Airport: 163 miles
More on Las Vegas: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Population: 5,950
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 6)
Median Rent: $775
Distance to Closest Airport: 221 miles
More on Taos: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Population: 17,581
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 6)
Median Rent: $573
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Sunland Park: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Source: Public domain

Population: 1,061
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $772
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Dexter: Real Estate | Data

Population: 7,791
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $730
Distance to Closest Airport: 281 miles
More on Bloomfield: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Source: Public domain

Population: 29,278
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $1,050
Distance to Closest Airport: 63 miles
More on Carlsbad: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Source: Public domain

Population: 6,467
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $739
Distance to Closest Airport: 276 miles
More on Aztec: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Source: Public domain

Population: 560,447
Rank Last Year: 18 (Up 10)
Median Rent: $889
Distance to Closest Airport: 173 miles
More on Albuquerque: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Population: 21,637
Rank Last Year: 24 (Up 15)
Median Rent: $675
Distance to Closest Airport: 234 miles
More on Gallup: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Population: 44,967
Rank Last Year: -
Median Rent: $892
Distance to Closest Airport: 286 miles
More on Farmington: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Best places to live in new mexico for retirees

Source: Public domain

Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Land Of Enchantment for 2022

To create our list of the best places in New Mexico to retire, we first used Census data to find all places in the Land Of Enchantment -- 417 cities and towns.

We then narrowed it down to places with at least 1,000 people that weren't townships. This left us with 10 places from across the state.

For these 10, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI's Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:

  • Low cost of living as measured by rent
  • Low crime
  • Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
  • Nice weather
  • Distance to the closest international airport
  • Other retirees (High median age)

We then ranked each of these places for each criteria from one to 10, with the lowest number being the best.

Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Las Vegas, with the lowest average rank was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second careers. You can download the data here.

Summary: Maybe You're Not Ready To Retire In New Mexico Yet...

So there you have it, the best place to retire in New Mexico goes to Las Vegas.

If you're not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:

  1. Farmington
  2. Gallup
  3. Albuquerque

For more New Mexico reading, check out:

  • Richest Cities In New Mexico
  • Safest Places In New Mexico

Where Are The Best Places To Retire In New Mexico?

RankCityPopulationMedian Rent
1 Las Vegas 13,055 $609
2 Taos 5,950 $775
3 Sunland Park 17,581 $573
4 Dexter 1,061 $772
5 Bloomfield 7,791 $730
6 Carlsbad 29,278 $1,050
7 Aztec 6,467 $739
8 Albuquerque 560,447 $889
9 Gallup 21,637 $675
10 Farmington 44,967 $892

How Is The Area In ?

What is the best place to retire in New Mexico?

Each of these metrics came together to create the list below of the best places to retire in New Mexico:.
Taos. This desert town in northern New Mexico is an outdoor lover's dream. ... .
Placitas. ... .
Silver City. ... .
Santa Fe. ... .
Ruidoso. ... .
Los Alamos. ... .
Aztec. ... .
Corrales..

What is the best small town to live in New Mexico?

1. Chimayo, NM. Located just north of Santa Fe, this historic village is more than just one of the best small towns in New Mexico. It is the home of the famous Chimayo weavers, the red chile pepper, and the legendary El Santuario de Chimayo.

Is Taos New Mexico a good place to retire?

Taos is the best place to retire in New Mexico, according to a new study from SmartAsset that measured "tax friendliness, availability of medical care and social opportunities for seniors" for cities throughout the state. According to the study, Corrales and Santa Fe ranked number 2 and 3, respectively.

What is the nicest area to live in New Mexico?

15 Best Places to Live in New Mexico.
Los Alamos. Source: Ron Cogswell / Flickr Los Alamos. ... .
White Rock. Source: Chyeburashka at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia White Rock. ... .
Sandia Heights. Source: www.youtube.com Sandia Heights. ... .
Eldorado at Santa Fe. ... .
Corrales. ... .
Mesilla. ... .
Rio Rancho. ... .
Paradise Hills..