If you’re nearing the end of your career or have already retired and are looking for a change of scenery, consider the Land of Enchantment for your golden years.
There are plenty of things that make New Mexico a greater place for retirement. Whether you’re a connoisseur of eye-popping sunsets, a UFO enthusiast, or just a lover of chilies, New Mexico has loads to keep you satisfied during your work-free years.
Combine that with being among the states with the lowest rent in America, and you’ll have even more expendable cash on hand to enjoy all New Mexico has to offer.
Where should you lay down your briefcase in New Mexico? Well, if you’d like to live next door to George R.R. Martin and Val Kilmer, Los Alamos is your best bet. If you’ve always had “going to a rodeo” on your bucket list, Ruidoso is the place to be.
New Mexico will leave you enchanted no matter where you decide to retire, but these places will offer the absolute most to retirees.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Mexico For 2024
It wasn’t easy to narrow down the best spots to retire in New Mexico. But by looking for the places with low cost of living and crime rates, combined with the best weather, activities, and access to the airport, we determined where folks can find the most fulfillment in their retirement.
What’s the best place to retire in New Mexico for 2024? According to the latest data, Tucumcari is the absolute best place in the state for retirees.
If you’re a little worried that New Mexico is too far from the family, be sure to look for overlap between this list and our list of best cities to raise a family. It could just be a win-win for every generation.
Why did Tucumcari take the top spot? And where are Albuquerque and Las Cruces?
For more New Mexico state reading:
- Best Places To Live In New Mexico
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Mexico
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New Mexico
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Mexico For 2024
/10
Population: 5,206
Median Income: $34,424
Median Home Price: $75,709
Median Rent: $672
Distance to Closest Airport: 112 miles
More on Tucumcari: Data | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,696
Median Income: $36,033
Median Home Price: $317,739
Median Rent: $850
Distance to Closest Airport: 65 miles
More on Ruidoso: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,046
Median Income: $40,899
Median Home Price: $138,410
Median Rent: $666
Distance to Closest Airport: 191 miles
More on Raton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,367
Median Income: $38,838
Median Home Price: $244,505
Median Rent: $831
Distance to Closest Airport: 158 miles
More on Belen: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,030
Median Income: $28,685
Median Home Price: $137,945
Median Rent: $686
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Truth Or Consequences: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,194
Median Income: $39,558
Median Home Price: $186,356
Median Rent: $690
Distance to Closest Airport: 163 miles
More on Las Vegas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,495
Median Income: $94,966
Median Home Price: $668,575
Median Rent: $1,201
Distance to Closest Airport: 179 miles
More on Corrales: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,708
Median Income: $27,406
Median Home Price: $218,443
Median Rent: $591
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Anthony: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 30,996
Median Income: $50,721
Median Home Price: $200,708
Median Rent: $858
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Alamogordo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,773
Median Income: $45,545
Median Home Price: $211,033
Median Rent: $718
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Sunland Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Land Of Enchantment for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in New Mexico to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Land Of Enchantment — 417 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 32 places from across the state.
For these 32, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 32, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Tucumcari, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in New Mexico.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In New Mexico Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in New Mexico goes to Tucumcari.
The best places to retire in New Mexico are Tucumcari, Ruidoso, Raton, Belen, Truth or Consequences, Las Vegas, Corrales, Anthony, Alamogordo, and Sunland Park.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Hobbs
- Albuquerque
- Gallup
For more New Mexico reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In New Mexico
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucumcari | 5,206 | $34,424 | $75,709 | $672 |
| 2 | Ruidoso | 7,696 | $36,033 | $317,739 | $850 |
| 3 | Raton | 6,046 | $40,899 | $138,410 | $666 |
| 4 | Belen | 7,367 | $38,838 | $244,505 | $831 |
| 5 | Truth Or Consequences | 6,030 | $28,685 | $137,945 | $686 |
| 6 | Las Vegas | 13,194 | $39,558 | $186,356 | $690 |
| 7 | Corrales | 8,495 | $94,966 | $668,575 | $1,201 |
| 8 | Anthony | 8,708 | $27,406 | $218,443 | $591 |
| 9 | Alamogordo | 30,996 | $50,721 | $200,708 | $858 |
| 10 | Sunland Park | 16,773 | $45,545 | $211,033 | $718 |