What about Roswell? (Albuquerque, Taos, Hagerman: appointed, real estate, crime)

[clemson fan]

Is Roswell a cool town? How is the cost of living there and the quality of life for a married couple about 38 years old with no children? Thanks for any help, Clemson Fan.

[Mark S.]

I've spent lots of time in Roswell. My dad lived there for about 10 years.

It isn't the worst town in NM, but it would definitely make my Top 5. Crime is pretty bad, and the schools are terrible. However, since you have no kids, if you were careful about the neighborhood in which you lived, you might like it.

As for "quality of life," what are you looking for?

[ontheroad]

I was very disappointed by Roswell when visiting this summer (from Taos). It appeared bleak and run-down. I did meet several very nice people, and had a B+ meal at a local restaurant, otherwise I'd rate the town poorly.

I have some mutual friends that live in Roswell and nearly "never" say one good word about it, although they did raise their children there and both taught art at local schools/museums. They hope they can sell off their house and move North.

If you aren't interested in alien culture, I would say, nada to Roswell.

[clemson fan]

Thanks y'all, I've never been to New Mexico but saw a job opening in Roswell and was curious. Clemson fan.

[Koolibri_Rantšo]

I was "born and raised" in Roswell. In retrospect, it was probably a great town to grow up in, at the time. It didn't used to look nearly as run down and the schools USED to be excellent. (Don't know that they would be worse than average now. All of the public schools in the states suck anymore!)

Roswell has some nice amenities not always found in a city of it's size. That can be said for it.

I kind of keep up with the news from over there and the crime is BAD these days! It would show up in the national crime statistics except for the fact that Roswell is still under 50,000 people and therefor not considered a "Standard Metropolitain Statistical Area".

It's always struck me funny since they have been capitalizing on the "Roswell Incident" as a tourism draw over there. I think most of the town was aware of the events of 1947, but you never heard it discussed in public during the time I lived there (1954-1972).

Bob

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Koolibri_Rantšo

It's always struck me funny since they have been capitalizing on the "Roswell Incident" as a tourism draw over there. I think most of the town was aware of the events of 1947, but you never heard it discussed in public during the time I lived there (1954-1972).

Yep. I spent a lot of time in Roswell in the '70s and '80s, and the whole UFO thing was a non-issue. It didn't really become "a thing" until the '90s when shows like The X-Files became a hit and the locals decided to try to cash in.

[mikus]

Originally Posted by clemson fan

Is Roswell a cool town? How is the cost of living there and the quality of life for a married couple about 38 years old with no children? Thanks for any help, Clemson Fan.

check out these websites,,,,,roswellnm.org and roswell-nm.gov and chavescounty.net... they are all new with updated info..

[HeyDude]

Like every city there is the bad side and the good side of town. Coming from Los Angeles it was a major adjustment for my family, nevertheless after living in Roswell for almost 3 years I think it is a great town in many respect. Education- Being a very concern parent, I was paying 600-650 a month for private school for my oldest. I found the public school very competent and the teachers very interested in teaching. Real Estate- One can buy half the town with what one pays for a house in LA. Like I mentioned earlier regarding the bad side of cities, most of the crime does occur in the south of Roswell. If one goes farther North West, nothing bad ever happens here. Actually some people do come by and ask to pick up the pecan nuts. These people who are ragging on Roswell are not properly portraying Roswell. It is a great city with wonderful people.

[DOUBLE H]

To be sure, Roswell has detractors. The south side of town has gang problems, especially around R.I.A.C. (Roswell Industrial Air Center). Jobs aren't plentiful and do not pay great. In that regard it has been a hard luck place for a few decades. When Walker AFB closed up, the area suffered for a time. The area lost a lot of jobs when the Levi Plant shut down its plant, same with the factory that manufactures parts for the Greyhound and Trailways buses.

I like the area myself. A good friend of mine lives just south of there in Hagerman. I find it comical somewhat about the town jumping on the UFO bandwagon, but you know what? If I lived in an area that was economically depressed, I would do anything I could to build up an area. Who wouldn't?

Heydude is right on the housing; there are some great looking homes that are being built west of town and also northwest of town. Building the new Sam's Club is definitely a plus as the only other options for Sam's are Albuquerque and El Paso.

In the early 90's, it got negative press regarding the economy in general and RIAC in particular; the article I read in the Denver Post was pretty sobering in its overview of the situation. I get down there a couple times a year and I do see improvement. Like any other small city, it needs good paying jobs.

[Pintada Kid]

It seems that ive been going to Roswell all my life since the 60s and I always liked it then and i still do. People can talk about the crime which im sure there is but ive never seen any real crime in Roswell. Here a year or two ago some kids were driving fast and recklessly and squeeling tires down main street but i think they were careful to spot the cops because they never got stopped. Roswell to me is a clean town with nice people and everytime i go there theres something being built. I think theres about a half dozen Giant Buildings going up near the Wal Mart. Hows that for jobs and a Growing Roswell bought 4 1x10s by 10 feet for 9 bucks each at Home Depot is that too Much? Check out La Juana and order the Red Munudo Bowl. el pintada kid