New Mexico has become a popular retirement destination, and it’s easy to see why. The state has plenty of characteristics that attract retirees, including its low cost of living, warm climate, rich culture, and many amenities. If you’re considering retiring to New Mexico, we can help.

We’ve rounded up the 10 best places to retire in New Mexico so you can find your next home.

Methodology

When narrowing down our list of the best places to retire in New Mexico, we considered several factors, including affordability, safety, amenities, and community — all factors that are often important to retirees. We used the following criteria when making our top-10 list:

• Percent of the population over 65
• Median home price
• Cost of living
• Cost of healthcare
• Crime rate
• Amenities score

To gather our data, we used information from three primary sources: Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the livability rankings website AreaVibes. The cities on our list meet most or all of the criteria on our list, making them excellent places for retirees to settle down.

Tip: Worried about inflation eating into your savings? Use our Retirement Planner to model different scenarios based on inflation.

Top 10 spots to retire in New Mexico

Data as of June 24, 2022; national averages from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/HSG860221

Ruidoso

Ruidoso is a small New Mexico village with a population of nearly 8,000 people. The village is located in Lincoln County, which is in the southern part of the state. It’s set in the Sierra Blanca mountain range with plenty of skiing, hiking, waterfalls, and other outdoor recreation. Retirees who love to spend time outside will find Ruidoso a great place to live.

Ruidoso has plenty of characteristics that make it a great place for retirees to live. It offers a low cost of living, including a below-average median home price, affordable healthcare, and an overall cost of living that’s below the national average. Ruidoso also has plenty of amenities and a large population of retirees. Unfortunately, like many cities in New Mexico, Ruidoso does have a crime rate that’s higher than the national average.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is the largest city on our list — and the fourth-largest city in New Mexico — with a population of more than 88,000 people. The city is one of the tourist hubs of New Mexico, as well as the state’s capital. The city has plenty for its residents to do thanks to its rich history and culture, strong arts scene, local food and dining opportunities, and more.

Santa Fe has plenty of advantages for retirees. The city offers many amenities and a large community of people under the age of 65. The city is also safer than many on our list. Not only is its crime rate lower than the state’s above-average crime rate, but its crime rate is also lower than the national average. Unfortunately, these perks come at a cost. Santa Fe has a median housing price, healthcare costs, and an overall cost of living that are higher than the national average.

Silver City

Silver City is a small New Mexico town located in Grant County. WIth a population of just under 10,000, the town sits in the southwestern part of the state. Silver City sits near a national forest and plenty of mountains and hills for hiking. It has plenty of historical sites, as well as a strong arts and culture scene.

Silver City is a great place to retire for several reasons. First, the city has a low median home price, relatively affordable healthcare costs, and an overall cost of living that’s well below the national average. The city also has plenty of amenities and a relatively large over-65 community. Unfortunately, Silver City has a crime rate that’s considerably higher than the national average.

Corrales

Corrales is a village of about 9,000 people located in Sandoval County, just miles from Albuquerque. Thanks to its proximity to the local metropolitan area, the Corrales has all of the big-city perks with a small-town feel. The village was first farmed by Tiguex Pueblo people, and still holds onto its historical heritage. It is home to vineyards, unique architecture, and a thriving arts scene.

Corrales has plenty of characteristics that make it a great place to retire. First, the city has many amenities and a large retiree community — roughly one-third of the city’s residents are over age 65. The city also boasts a crime rate that’s considerably lower than the national average. Unfortunately, Corrales is expensive — its housing prices, healthcare costs, and overall cost of living are all above the national average.

Placitas

Placitas is a small census-designated place (CDP) in New Mexico with a population of just 5,000 people. It’s just outside Albuquerque, meaning residents can enjoy all the perks of the local metropolitan area. Placitas is known for its outdoor recreation, including its hiking and biking trails. It also has strong entrepreneurial and arts scenes.

Placitas has the largest retiree population of any city on our list. Roughly 36% of the city’s residents are over age 65, which can give retirees a strong sense of community. The city also boasts a low crime rate — in fact, it’s 60% lower than the national average. Unfortunately, the city has a high cost of living, including for housing and healthcare. It also has few amenities for retirees.

Taos

Taos is a small New Mexico town in the north-central part of the state in the desert region. The town sits near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is known for its unique architecture, which is a remnant of its strong Native American history. Taos is an artist town with many galleries and museums that showcase the work of local artists.

Taos is another city on our list with a large retiree population and more than one-third of its residents over the age of 65. The city is close to the national average when it comes to housing costs, healthcare, and overall cost of living. It also has many amenities for retirees. Unfortunately, Taos has one of the highest crime rates of any city on our list.

Truth or Consequences

Formerly known as Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences is a small New Mexico city in Sierra County in the southwest part of the state. Truth or Consequences has a thriving wellness tourism industry, and its claim to fame is its local hot springs, which are said to have healing properties.

Truth or Consequences has many great perks for retirees. First, the city is quite affordable. It has a very low median home price, relatively affordable healthcare, and an overall cost of living that’s below the national average. It also has a large retiree population. The two major downsides for retirees are the city’s lack of amenities compared to most on our list and its crime rate.

Deming

Deming is a small New Mexico city located in the far southwestern part of the state, just 35 miles from the Mexican border. Deming sits in the desert with the Florida mountains nearby. Deming residents enjoy nearby state parks, wineries, a local museum, and more.

Deming is another of the most affordable cities on our list. It has a very low median home price, relatively affordable healthcare, and an overall low cost of living. Deming, like most of the cities on our list, also has a large retiree population and many amenities. Unfortunately, Deming has the highest crime rate of any city on our list — it’s considerably higher than the national average.

Roswell

Roswell is one of the largest cities on our list — and the fifth-largest in New Mexico — with a population of nearly 50,000. It sits in the eastern part of the state, surrounded by a wildlife refuge, parks, and other outdoor recreation. You probably know Roswell as the site of an alleged UFO crash and the home of the International UFO Museum and Research Center, but it offers plenty more for its residents, including its outdoor recreation, arts scene, zoo, and more.

Roswell has plenty of great advantages for its retirees. The city has a decent-sized retiree population, along with plenty of amenities for retirees. It’s also quite affordable, thanks to its low housing costs, average healthcare costs, and low overall cost of living. The downside of Roswell is that, like many cities in New Mexico, it has a high crime rate, especially compared to the national average.

Alamogordo

Alamogordo is another of the larger cities in our list, with a population of just over 31,000. It’s located in Otero County in the south-central part of the state. Alamogordo residents enjoy the beautiful scenery — the city has a national forest and mountain range on one side and a national park on the other. In addition to all of its outdoor recreation, residents can also enjoy the local zoo, The Museum of Space History, and more.

Alamogordo has plenty of characteristics that make it a great place for retirees to live. It has a low overall cost of living, as well as affordable healthcare and below-average home prices. The city also has plenty of amenities and a large retiree population. The one key downside to Alamogordo is its high crime rate.

Is New Mexico a good place for you to retire?

As we’ve mentioned, New Mexico has plenty of great advantages for retirees, including its warm weather, low cost of living, and strong retiree community. But like most places, it also has some disadvantages, including a crime rate that’s considerably higher than the national average, which is clear in the data we shared above. That being said, it is possible to find safe cities to settle in New Mexico that still offer all of the benefits the city has to offer.

As you’re planning for retirement, it’s helpful to understand the financial variables behind your decisions. The Empower Retirement Planner shows you if you’re on the right track for retirement and how much you’ll need to save to reach your retirement goals.