Somewhere outside of Albuqurque.... (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: low crime, home, neighborhoods)

[mamableu]

In too short of a time I need to make a decision that will affect my entire family. Where we are going to move. My husband has his heart set on New Mexico, and that's fine by me...but WHERE? We know we want to be close enough to hospitals,(we have two very small children) shopping, and other life necesities, but far enough out because my husband can't handle city life. We're just starting out in life, can't afford much...but need to get out of NJ... any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated...Thank you (yous)so much.

[Mark S.]

Why NM? Just curious. Is it a weather issue?

Places you should avoid: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos. Crime is pretty bad and they are VERY expensive. I'd also steer clear of Roswell, Artesia, Clovis/Portales, Las Vegas, Truth or Consequences. Bad crime. Bad schools. Not a good place to raise kids.

If I were moving back to NM, I'd probalby check out Las Cruces, Alamagordo, Silver City, or Carlsbad.

But honestly, I wouldn't go back to NM. If you're wanting a low cost of living and a high quality of life, there are places I'd recommend over NM.

[MoMark]

I agree with Mark S. Not to throw a wet towel on New Mexico, but it's not a place I'd want to live and raise children, particularly Albuquerque. I do however like Sante Fe which is very unique, the state capital, and not a very big city actually. But if I lived there (and it's expensive), I'd enroll my children in a private school. I'm curious why New Mexico? Have you actually been there? A thorough visit might help you decide if it's really right for you.

[finmqa1]

Mamableu - although both Mark's are entitled to their own opinions, I do believe they are extremely harsh in all their postings here. ABQ does have crime, and it is typically found in certain neighborhoods. Our crime is no worse or better than most cities our size. On the North side of town crime is extremely low compared with parts of the South side. But even in the Southern part of the city there are low crime areas. With two small children I would recommend Rio Rancho. This is our suburb to the NW. Rio Rancho has one of the lowest crime rates of any city its size. Rio Rancho has won numerous awards and the quality of life there is quite high. If you need an abundance of shopping and healthcare ABQ is just a few minutes away. Intel has the worlds largest computer chip factory located in Rio Rancho, and they are in the middle of constructing a new downtown which includes the soon to be open Santa Ana Star Casino Events Center home of the CHL NM Scorpions. Again, I'm not trying to say ABQ and its suburbs are perfect, but they have certainly gotten better. Our Mayor/Governor continue to make education and Crime their biggest priority, which is why we are seeing a much higher job growth % compared to the rest of the nation. Just yesterday ABQ passed a bond election allocating $353 million to the public school system, which includes the building of 2 elementary schools, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. And back to Rio Rancho, they have one of the best public school systems in the West!!!!!!!

[Mark S.]

My brother and his family (wife and two young children) live in Rio Rancho. They can't wait to get out. Rio Rancho was a really nice, rather quiet community 15 years ago. It's not so nice anymore.

But again: It depends on what you want. The things I dislike about NM may be the very things that someone else is looking for.

[EnjoyEP]

I have to echo what finmqa1 (Rio Rancho is a VERY nice place for families to live) and respectfully heartily disagree with Mark S. is saying.

Mark, you say 15 years ago Rio Rancho was much nicer. Well, 15 years ago, Rio Rancho was no more than a few thousand people, very rural, and extremely small.

Yes, as such, as Rio Rancho is now the 3rd fastest growing community in the U.S., crime will be higher than it was when it was literally just one big ranch.

However, in going to my church there, and with most of the families that attend my church residing (with their families) in Rio Rancho, I think the concept of "high crime" in Rio Rancho is almost laughable.

I believe once you posted that you resided now in Seattle...I have traveled to Seattle frequently and have heard horror stories from locals regarding Seattle's crime. I have seen bad areas of Seattle too. But would I say they have a crime problem? No.

I just don't see your constant beating-down of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho's horrible "crime" problem. I have a wife, a 16 month old daughter, and have another child on the way, and am extremely middle class and moved from Wisconsin three years ago. And I have NEVER - not once - had an iota of problems with crime.

If Rio Rancho is growing at the tremendous rate it is, it must mean that it can't be so bad - why would so many people desire to live here?

I am sorry that your brother's family seems to be having a hard time in Rio Rancho, I really am. But sometimes I think people take the area they've lived in a long time, see the worst in it, and don't realize many of the same problems occur most elsewhere.

(I have also seen you stating that the "quality of life" is much better in places like Wisconsin. Having lived there for 27 years, I scratch my head at that. Sure, there are some beautiful aspects of WI. However, Milwaukee has terrible "crime" [although again, just like Albuquerque and most big cities, it is confined to pockets], and get used to 8-month long winters and very high taxes, both which terribly affects your quality of life).

I respect that you just simply don't like most of New Mexico a great deal, and to each their own - NM seems to be a very polarizing state to live in (either love it or you don't), and Albuquerque a very polarizing city.

But frankly, there needs to be a voice of defense on this forum to your knock-downs of ABQ and Rio Rancho, because even me not being a native (and thus not really biased to the area), I just see a tremendous amount of good in this area - compared to most of the rest of the country - and not all of these negatives you are describing.

[_yb]

Ditto what finmqa1 and EnjoyEP say.

[finmqa1]

Very well put enjoyEP, I also replied to your question regarding EP vs ABQ on the Texas fourm.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Mark, you say 15 years ago Rio Rancho was much nicer. Well, 15 years ago, Rio Rancho was no more than a few thousand people, very rural, and extremely small.

Yep. And that’s exactly what I mean by “nice.” Rio Rancho now has urban sprawl, traffic problems, and a higher crime rate. Not my definition of “nice,” but to each his own. One man’s palace is another man’s prison.

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I believe once you posted that you resided now in Seattle...I have traveled to Seattle frequently and have heard horror stories from locals regarding Seattle's crime. I have seen bad areas of Seattle too. But would I say they have a crime problem? No.

Yeah, but you don’t live here. You don’t see the drug deals and the pimping on residential streets, the gang colors in the schools, the news reports of shootings on a daily basis. Seattle crime -- especially violent crime -- has gone up every year since we’ve been here. Is it as bad as Detroit or Miami? No. But it isn’t good.

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

(I have also seen you stating that the "quality of life" is much better in places like Wisconsin. Having lived there for 27 years, I scratch my head at that. Sure, there are some beautiful aspects of WI. However, Milwaukee has terrible "crime"

I wouldn’t live in Milwaukee or Green Bay either. But there’s more to Wisconsin than Milwaukee.

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I respect that you just simply don't like most of New Mexico a great deal, and to each their own -

Exactly.

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

But frankly, there needs to be a voice of defense on this forum to your knock-downs of ABQ and Rio Rancho.

And that’s why we have you.

Seriously, if you like the area, that’s great. More power to you. Share your views loudly and often. But I’ll share the other side as well and we’ll let people make up their own minds. You may love the very things I hated about NM -- and vice versa. Nothing wrong with that. It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

[finmqa1]

Just out of curiosity Mark, what cities do you enjoy?