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.
My wife and I are moving back to the US after an extended period abroad and we are currently looking at places that meet our criteria.
Here is what is most important to us in terms of places to live:
1. Friendly people.
2. Good healthcare.
3. Small/medium sized city (perhaps around 10K - 30K people).
4. Reasonable COL with nice homes available for under 300K without high property taxes.
5. Warmer rather than colder weather, without significant extremes and with lots of natural beauty.
6. Local government that respects human rights and does not infringe on Constitutionally protected activities.
7. Excellent internet access.
8. Low crime - High safety.
9. Nowhere there has been rioting, looting or burning during the recent protests.
Pluses would be:
1. Organic markets.
2. Vegetarian options for dining.
3. Educational opportunities for my wife (ESL classes, perhaps a university or college if she chooses to attend).
Things that do not matter to us:
1. Job prospects - I work online.
2. Education - We intend to homeschool.
Well, you could start by looking at Los Lunas. There is another thread going on now about all the “issues” with LL, but it does have a lot going for it.
I won’t go into great detail, since you can easily research specific details that most concern you, but it does seem to fit a lot of what you are looking for.
The one drawback could be medical facilities, as there is no hospital, and not a lot of specialist doctors, but Albuquerque is just up the road about 25 miles, so medical is easily accessible. Everything else seems to meet your requirements. Albuquerque offers a lot of entertainment and shopping alternatives, but is far enough away to leave many (but not all) of the urban issues behind.
The area is growing, (20,000?) and it has both suburban and rural cultures and living choices. You can live in the more suburban Neighborhoods with (some
There are lots of friendly people in New Mexico, but in anything less than the major metro areas (Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Las Cruces) you will run into "locals v. outsiders" attitudes. Most smaller towns in New Mexico are filled with people whose families settled there hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago.
2. Good healthcare.
Not great unless you are in or near the above metro areas.
4. Reasonable COL with nice homes available for under 300K without high property taxes.
Plenty of this, even in the metro areas.
5. Warmer rather than colder weather, without significant extremes and with lots of natural beauty.
Even the warmest parts of the state get at least a little bit cold (below freezing mornings, no native palms survive here) for a few months of winter. And the warmer the wintgers are, the hotter the summers are. Temerature ranges in New Mexico, seasonally and in a given day, are a hallmark of the state. Right now where I am, daytime temps are in the upper 40s-low 50s and mornings are in the mid 20s. In the height of summer, add 50 degrees.
6. Local government that respects human rights and does not infringe on Constitutionally protected activities.
Northern/Central NM leans left, southern NM leans (hard) right, but overall NM is a moderate state and I would not describe government here as overly authoritarian or oppressive, though our Covid restrictions are among the most aggressive in the country.
7. Excellent internet access.
Bigger cities. Don't expect much the further from interstates you get.
8. Low crime - High safety.
Uhhhh... Property crime is a notable problem, especially auto burglary/theft. Violent crime is generally not a problem unless you are in a gang or homeless. You are not in a gang are you?
9. Nowhere there has been rioting, looting or burning during the recent protests.
Albuquerque had some protests early on. Nothing severe like you see on the news. Not much of a response anywhere else in the state as far as I know.
1. Organic markets.
Plenty of organic options in Albuquerque/Santa Fe metro.
2. Vegetarian options for dining.
Again, Albuquerque/Santa Fe has a multitude of options.
3. Educational opportunities for my wife (ESL classes, perhaps a university or college if she chooses to attend).
See above. New Mexico's flagship university, UNM, is in Albuquerque. Las Cruces is home to the second largest university as well, NMSU. Santa Fe has a couple of small colleges.
Overall, since you are looking for a smaller community, but big city amenities, you are restricting your options compared to densely populated states. My recommendation would be to look at communities along the Rio Grande Valley along I-25, and within commuting range of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, or Las Cruces.
Well, you could start by looking at Los Lunas. There is another thread going on now about all the “issues” with LL, but it does have a lot going for it.
I won’t go into great detail, since you can easily research specific details that most concern you, but it does seem to fit a lot of what you are looking for.
The one drawback could be medical facilities, as there is no hospital, and not a lot of specialist doctors, but Albuquerque is just up the road about 25 miles, so medical is easily accessible. Everything else seems to meet your requirements. Albuquerque offers a lot of entertainment and shopping alternatives, but is far enough away to leave many (but not all) of the urban issues behind.
The area is growing, (20,000?) and it has both suburban and rural cultures and living choices. You can live in the more suburban Neighborhoods with (some
Nice, thanks! Will look into it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
1. Friendly people.
There are lots of friendly people in New Mexico, but in anything less than the major metro areas (Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Las Cruces) you will run into "locals v. outsiders" attitudes. Most smaller towns in New Mexico are filled with people whose families settled there hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago.
Well, I don't need everyone to be friendly, as long as the people I generally run into on a day to day basis aren't super surly I'm happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
2. Good healthcare.
Not great unless you are in or near the above metro areas.
So stick nearish to the metros, I can do that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
4. Reasonable COL with nice homes available for under 300K without high property taxes.
Plenty of this, even in the metro areas.
Nice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
5. Warmer rather than colder weather, without significant extremes and with lots of natural beauty.
Even the warmest parts of the state get at least a little bit cold (below freezing mornings, no native palms survive here) for a few months of winter. And the warmer the wintgers are, the hotter the summers are. Temerature ranges in New Mexico, seasonally and in a given day, are a hallmark of the state. Right now where I am, daytime temps are in the upper 40s-low 50s and mornings are in the mid 20s. In the height of summer, add 50 degrees.
We're mostly trying to avoid the super extremes. I grew up in Northeast USA and my wife grew up in the tropics. Neither of us want 3 straight months of snow or tropical heat and humidity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
6. Local government that respects human rights and does not infringe on Constitutionally protected activities.
Northern/Central NM leans left, southern NM leans (hard) right, but overall NM is a moderate state and I would not describe government here as overly authoritarian or oppressive, though our Covid restrictions are among the most aggressive in the country.
Moderate is good, live and let live is best.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
7. Excellent internet access.
Bigger cities. Don't expect much the further from interstates you get.
Ouch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
8. Low crime - High safety.
Uhhhh... Property crime is a notable problem, especially auto burglary/theft. Violent crime is generally not a problem unless you are in a gang or homeless. You are not in a gang are you?
Not the last time I checked.
Either way not reassuring.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
9. Nowhere there has been rioting, looting or burning during the recent protests.
Albuquerque had some protests early on. Nothing severe like you see on the news. Not much of a response anywhere else in the state as far as I know.
Nice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
1. Organic markets.
Plenty of organic options in Albuquerque/Santa Fe metro.
So be close to those cities, got it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
2. Vegetarian options for dining.
Again, Albuquerque/Santa Fe has a multitude of options.
As above.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
3. Educational opportunities for my wife (ESL classes, perhaps a university or college if she chooses to attend).
See above. New Mexico's flagship university, UNM, is in Albuquerque. Las Cruces is home to the second largest university as well, NMSU. Santa Fe has a couple of small colleges.
Sounds like we really need to be near a big city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ABQConvict
Overall, since you are looking for a smaller community, but big city amenities, you are restricting your options compared to densely populated states. My recommendation would be to look at communities along the Rio Grande Valley along I-25, and within commuting range of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, or Las Cruces.
Thanks for the advice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by aries63
Dog-whistle much?
I think I'm being pretty clear. Let me say it again: Nowhere there has been rioting, looting or burning during the recent protests...
Yep, clear as a bell. I don't care who did it, I don't care why they did it, I just don't want to live with rioters, looters or burners. Right, left, up, down, cats, dogs or fish. Whoever or whatever is rioting looting or burning, I don't want to live near them.
You can look in your price range in Santa Fe (it could be challenging, depending on what you're looking for), but there are also communities outside of town, where RE is more affordable, and you still have access to the city's amenities, health care, farmers' markets, entertainment, etc.
Lamy
Glorieta
El Dorado
for starters. Also, properties within Santa Fe County just past the city limits are more affordable, as well. But if you prefer a smaller-town atmosphere, look in the above 3 towns.
I suggest Las Cruces. It leans more right than ABQ or Santa Fe and has a farmer's market every weekend for great veges. https://www.facebook.com/LasCrucesMarket/
Nights are still cold-beneath freezing in winter but daytime highs are much nicer than where you grew up.
LC has less crime than ABQ and less expensive for a safe neighborhood, I think garages in NM are becoming the norm for all new builds because of crime, car thefts, and being able to hide the fact that you are not home compared to carports, and protecting electrical from pack rats. Rio Rancho outside of ABQ has garage requirement for new builds i believe.
You can look in your price range in Santa Fe (it could be challenging, depending on what you're looking for), but there are also communities outside of town, where RE is more affordable, and you still have access to the city's amenities, health care, farmers' markets, entertainment, etc.
Lamy
Glorieta
El Dorado
for starters. Also, properties within Santa Fe County just past the city limits are more affordable, as well. But if you prefer a smaller-town atmosphere, look in the above 3 towns.
Thanks, checking them out on the real estate sites now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoMansLands
I suggest Las Cruces. It leans more right than ABQ or Santa Fe and has a farmer's market every weekend for great veges. https://www.facebook.com/LasCrucesMarket/
Nights are still cold-beneath freezing in winter but daytime highs are much nicer than where you grew up.
LC has less crime than ABQ and less expensive for a safe neighborhood, I think garages in NM are becoming the norm for all new builds because of crime, car thefts, and being able to hide the fact that you are not home compared to carports, and protecting electrical from pack rats. Rio Rancho outside of ABQ has garage requirement for new builds i believe.
Wow, the garage thing throws me for a loop! I guess I've been living in pretty sheltered places since I left the US because that didn't even occur to me as a reason!
Quote:
Originally Posted by aries63
I suggest Fairbanks, Alaska.
Can you please leave my post alone?
I don't know why you think I have an issue with you, but I don't. I just want to look for a variety of options of places to live and one of my family's core needs is safety. On Vietnamese news my wife saw riots and burning and looting and told me that in no uncertain terms there was no way she would live anywhere that was happening. I frankly can't disagree with her. I don't know why this seems like a bad choice to you.
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.
