Life in Edgewood NM (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: rent to own, how much, Home Depot)

[gardenlovinglady]

My friend wants to leave Marin County Ca. and move to Edgewood NM. Is it as desolate as it appears on the web? How much snow does it get? They are in their late 50's w/ a teenage daughter going into High School. How are the schools? Thanks.

[ziaAirmac]

Desolate....well desolate can be quite subjective. Edgewood is on the 'backside' of the Sandias just outside of Albuquerque on I-40. The home lots tend to be in the 1-10 acre range, so a lot of people that are there were looking for a decent amount of land within reasonable range of the big city. Many of the properties in Edgewood are covered in coniferous trees giving them a 'park forest' feel that is anything but desolate. Many people out here cherish the huge skies, so the pictures you see will generally be wide open vistas and landscapes, suggesting things are more desolate than most of the settled areas really are. Are you covered up in neighbors? No way. You could probably count the number of properties that share the road to your place on one hand, but that's the point of moving to Edgewood. That and being able to hit Home Depot or Coronado Center for big city shopping on the weekends with no problem.
I believe High Schoolers in Edgewood would be attending Moriarity H.S. (the next town out on I-40.). I have no experience with this school at all but I will say that the schools in the smaller towns in NM haven't fared so well on testing while the top rated High Schools in the state are in Albuquerque. I don't know if it would be possible to take advantage of the Albuquerque schools (possibly attending a magnet or private school) but it would be worth looking at. Obviously you'd have to have some answer for the commute. Hope things work out for them. Wow, Marin county California to Torrance County New Mexico. That has the makings of a reality T.V. show!

[Pintada Kid]

They just built a new Wal Mart in Edgewood i dont care much for the fire Danger and the Traffic soon to come to Edgewood plus i would think wate Problems. Moriarty and Estancia use to have good schools havent kept up but my logic is dont send your daughter thru the Canyon every day its too Dangerous especially in bad weather Check out Moriarty and Estancia land is cheaper and away from Forest fires and Wild Animals that are now running Scared and Hungry after the Trigo Fire and i think the people are Friendlier out towards Moriarty. Check the Local Paper the Independent and the East Mountain Telgraph. Rent or Rent to Own before you buy is my advice and get to know N.M. The temps can get below zero in the Winter easily in Edgewood and anywhere in the center of N.M. and plenty of snow but summers rarely get to 100 degrees. pintada kid @ webtv.net

[gardenlovinglady]

Thanks so much for the feed back. I'll forward it to my friend, it has helped a lot.

[GregW]

FWIW - I've noticed that the quality of any education has more to do with the interest of the student and the involvement of the parents than the apparent quality of the school. Please keep in mind that Edgewood, in comparison to almost anywhere in populated California, will feel like you have moved to a suburb of Barstow.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by gardenlovinglady

My friend wants to leave Marin County Ca. and move to Edgewood NM. Is it as desolate as it appears on the web? How much snow does it get? They are in their late 50's w/ a teenage daughter going into High School. How are the schools? Thanks.

I hear that Moriarity high school is a good school. Edgewood is kinda small and isolated but you are about 20 minutes from ABQ. I think the Parents will like it i'm just not sure about the teenage daughter will unless she meets some good friends at school.

Good luck to them.

6/3

[newmexicogal]

I am originally from the east coast and have lived in Edgewood since it was incorporated as a town in 1999. I do not have children but have a teaching background and unfortunatly would not reccommend the area if you are looking for good schools (including Albuquerque) unless you can afford private schooling. It has been my experience that New Mexico schools do not offer quality. Our teaching salaries are very low and you get what you pay for.

As far as being a nice community, it is. We are a growing area and presently experiencing alot of changes (good or bad depends on who you ask). I would not relocate a teen in this area however. I could not imagine living here when I was a teen; I would have gone mad with boredom.

[lisdol]

It is my understanding, living in Edgewood and knowing people with high school aged kids here, that the kids are eligible to put their name in the lottery, or on the list, or however it works, to get a spot at East Mountain High.

I have heard nothing good about Moriarty High School. I have talked to people who went there a few years ago, and to people who went there 10-15 years ago, and they say that it used to be good but the quality and safety is fast declining. I also know people who aren't busting down the doors of E Mtn high to get their kids in so it can't be as bad as some people paint it to be.

Just the other day a mom at soccer told me she has family with kids in Estancia schools and they are very happy with them. Estancia is a big commute into ABQ that I know I would not want to make. Some people do though.

If we were still to be living here when my elementary school aged kids were going into HS, I would try to get them into E. Mtn High.

And wow, Edgewood is quite diff from Marin Co. I have family in law that live in Marin and Sonoma Cos and it would be quite a culture shock, that's for sure.

[ortig507]

My husband and I have lived in Edgewood since September of 2007, having relocated here from Santa Fe, NM. Our son and his family live two doors down since April 2007. We like Edgewood very much--wide open spaces and smiling, "down to earth" folks. Thoughtfulness and kindness describe the demeanor of the people in this town.
Our grandson, fifteen and in a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsey due to premature birth, attends Moriarty High School. He is in a Special Needs class there, and has grown in so many ways this past year at this school. He has learned to speak more words than we had ever hoped for and also has learned the meaning of these words; he has learned to maneuver his wheelchair on his own; he has been allowed to participate in a "work" program to not only become a valuable person in the school office environment, but to also learn the value of his "work" to others, and the pride in a job well done and earning his own money. Having attended Special Ed classes in various schools in Albuquerque, this family feels Moriarty High School is the best! His Special Ed teacher promoted participation in numerous activities by these children and we believe, she truly loved them all. The aides, also, are wonderful. We are sorry his Special Ed teacher was forced to leave due to a major personal loss, but count our blessings that she and her assistants saw what these children can do and what they offer to others, rather than so much of society who views only what these children cannot do.
This young man's brother attended Route 66 Elementary in Edgewood this past year in kindergarten. The curriculum here seems pretty advanced in comparison to other schools in the state. Our grandson can add, subtract, read, and write complete sentences after a rigorous schedule of homework every night, etc. He absolutely loves the library! He thinks at this point in his young life that he wants to be a writer!
In short, this family is very pleased to have become members of this community!

[Hunter Wold]

OMG moving from beautiful Marin Co. to Edgewood will be a real change. You will not have the SF things, Seafood, ocean, etc...and other things not far from SF. You will have Wallymart(ugh), and then drive to Abq for excellent restaurants, and other shopping opportunities.
It's all about trade off's. We live wayout in Fence Lake which is about 1 hour for getting supplies, having a Starbucks, etc..but the quite rural lifestyle is ok..garden is doing well, chickens are happy, lots of deer and elk, antelope etc. Warm days, very cold winters, (but lived in Id also).
One must live in an area for a while to really get the feel of the place. School's no idea...
Into horses then ok..into SASS like me..ok..Edgewood really (booms) this next week with End of Trail.

Happy trails,

HW