Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thank you everyone for your responses! Tucson and New Mexico seem to intrigue me the most. I've always loved Albuquerque for some reason, and Santa Fe has always seemed even cooler to me. I think I have to visit Tucson and Santa Fe to figure out which city is right for me.
My husband and I are looking for the exact same thing. A southwestern city that has a good group of young and progressive people and isn't too big, and is near some mountains and greenery to enjoy. We were told about Prescott, Tucson and Austin, Tx too. Our only thing is trying to find place with reasonable cost of living. Sadly the cool cities in NM don't really qualify for low cost of living. Hope you find a great place to live!
My husband and I are looking for the exact same thing. A southwestern city that has a good group of young and progressive people and isn't too big, and is near some mountains and greenery to enjoy. We were told about Prescott, Tucson and Austin, Tx too. Our only thing is trying to find place with reasonable cost of living. Sadly the cool cities in NM don't really qualify for low cost of living. Hope you find a great place to live!
I would not call Prescott progressive. Quite the opposite.
Smithsonian magazine just named Taos NM and Alpine Tx as well as Durango Co as great (top 20 in US) small towns with the characteristics you are seeking. If they arent too small take a look at these three
I've come to the conclusion that either Tucson or Albuquerque would probably be the best option for me. Santa Fe seems ideal, and although the high minimum wage probably makes a difference, I'm really not sure that I could afford to live there. And although I would absolutely love to live in a smaller city as well, I'm just a bit weary of the possible lack of social scene and employment opportunities of the smaller places, which I could find in Tucson or ABQ. Do ABQ and Tucson offer similar amenities in terms of culture, art, etc? That seems to be what I've gathered..seems to be more of a preference of climate and atmosphere? The Tucson modern streetcar is definitely an exciting project that influences my interest in the city! Thank you all again.
Both have a lot of Latino and Native culture. Both have good food. Both have beautiful country surrounding them. Both have a smaller college town type indie scene going on.
I know Tucson better and think it's one of the most beautiful places in the world( love the Sonoran), but both fit your criteria. The main differences are weather and culture. ABQ gets snowy and cold,Tucson gets real hot. Both are dry, Tucson, I think, gets a little more rain. NM has the "spanish" culture of latinos that've lived there since it was part of Spain. AZ has some latinos with deep roots that far back but it's more mexico oriented. What that means for you, probably nothing, but I think that sums up the Tucson vs. Albuquerque thing I've seen on CD.
I would visit Tucson and go to 4th Ave. by the college, see the old barrios by downtown and S. Tucson, the mission, the nice neighborhoods in the Catalina Foothills, drive up the Catalinas to the top of Mt. Lemmon, go to Saguaro Nat'l Parks East and West, the Sonoran Desert Museum(really a zoo and the best introduction to the awesome flora and fauna) and visit the nearby caves like Colossal and Kartchner, and much more. Do the same type of trip with ABQ and then decide to live with the weather in either place based on all each place has.
Either one is in the Southwest, which is the best part of America anyways.
I think Albuquerque would be a great fit for you, mid size city, with all your amneities , great food, culture, mild four seasons, many outdoor activities, UNM, Isotopes, Tramway, Balloon Fiesta, Casinos, their is plenty to do, and friendly atmosphere, nice scenery with the Sandias in the back, you will fall in love.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
