8 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Mexico in 2024
New Mexico,The Land of Enchantment, is known for its stunning mountains and open acres of land for exploration. The cities in this state are exceptional for holidays, but they also stand out as places to live your retirement days. With access to smooth transportation, social amenities, and good healthcare, retirees can enjoy the goodness of nature. From the colorful landscapes of Mesilla to the green pastures of Corrales and the Manzano Mountains in Los Lunas, there are lots of sites for you to explore during your free time. If you are planning to retire in 2024, learn more about eight of the best towns you should consider in New Mexico.
Corrales
If you are thinking of the perfect town to retire in 2024, Corrales should top your list. Usually, retirees are looking for serene areas to spend their retirement days, and with its acres of green pastures and many attractions where you can have a drink, walk, and just relax, Corrales is worth a consideration.
Corrales has a rich history in drink making, and retirees will enjoy evenings at Corrales Winery, Casa Vieja Brewery, and Ex Novo Brewery to lay back and have conversations or stare into the beautiful landscapes of the Sandia Mountains. If you want to see history or get food items, the local Corrales Growers Market and the Casa San Ysidro, which is a historic museum, can solve that problem, and you may also find friendly faces there. Retirement also brings health facilities into consideration, and Corrales covers that with its Corrales Family Practice. With a median home value of $749K and an above-average cost of living, it has all the comforts that retirees need.
Ruidoso
Sightseeing and less stressful outdoor activities add color to retirement. At Ruidoso, a charming mountain resort located in the Sierra Blanca mountain range, there is enough to relax and stay fit during your retirement days.
A few spots are quite the monuments in Ruidoso, such as the Lincoln National Forest, which has about 1.1 million acres of suburban land. You can enjoy hiking, picnics, or even a camping trip in this area. If you are a fan of skiing, the Ruidoso Winter Park will fit perfectly into your plans. The town's homely vibe makes it attractive to retirees. The Lincoln County Medical Center has friendly staff and management to cater to your health needs, and with a low median home value of $448K, you can find yourself a nice, cozy spot and save the extra cash for more fun activities.
Los Lunas
Embrace the beauty and natural wildlife of New Mexico with Los Lunas as your preferred retirement option. From its unique wildlife to its many outdoor spots where you can bask in the town's charm, Los Lunas makes retirees feel comfortable without spending too much, as its median home value is $360K as of June 2024.
If you are bored at home and need to go on a walk, visit Los Lunas Riverside Park. With a 1.2-mile trail and acres of space for hiking and picnicking, it is a great place to be during the afternoons and evenings. You should also visit the Manzano Mountains to do more sightseeing. The Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Arts is one busy spot. Here, you will learn about its crowning moments and a little about other surrounding villages, and you will also meet other retirees who are there to have a good time. Lastly, the Los Lunas Medical Center makes it easy for retirees to get healthcare.
Roswell
If you plan to retire in Roswell, then you are in for the best retirement anyone could ask for. Healthcare becomes the least of your worries as facilities such as Lovelace Regional Hospital and Eastern New Mexico Medical Center are around the corner.
Roswell is also a pretty interesting spot due to the supposed crash of a UFO in 1947. It was referred to as the “Roswell Incident” and brought wave after wave of controversy internationally. After that incident, the town bought into its extraterrestrial reputation and erected lots of UFO landmarks and museums. If you are interested in aliens and extraterrestrial objects, Roswell will sweep you off your feet. You can visit the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, Alien Zone Area 51, and the International UFO Museum & Research Center. Getting a home here is below the average cost in the United States as its median home value costs around $277K.
Farmington
Farmington is a picturesque city in the heart of the Four Corners region that offers outdoor entertainment. There are many attractions for retirees who love art, the outdoors, or a diverse culture.
The art scene in Farmington is very active, and you can experience it at the historic downtown or the Downtown Maker’s Market. The annual Outdoor Summer Theater production presents a taste of local artistic expressions and productions. For retirees looking to explore the natural landscape in Farmington, there is plenty of space for hiking, and off-road riding. Discover the Bisti Badlands, Mesa Verde National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Four Corners Monument, Glade Run Recreation, Aztec Ruins National Monument, and Salmon Ruins.
Farmington is a gem for your retirement in 2024, and with a median home value of $360K, prices are reasonable.
Truth or Consequences
Would you be able to live with the consequences of telling the truth? That is a good question to ask your fellow retirees when living in this never-boring town called Truth and Consequences. Renamed in 1950 after the hit radio show Truth and Consequences, it has continued to make a name for itself as one of the cities with unusual names.
It is popular not only for its name but also for its soothing natural hot springs, which allow you to soak in the warm waters of its many springs. Some of the springs here include Blackstone Hotsprings and Riverbend Hot Springs. After a soothing soak, head over to Truth or Consequences Brewing Co., where you can meet fellow retirees, get a drink, and engage in fun conversations. The Geronimo Springs Museum is another must-visit site, and it has other engaging activities, such as exhibits and tours, that make the trip worthwhile.
Retirees can also easily access the Sierra Vista Hospital-Truth or Consequence, located on 9th Avenue. With a median house value of about $175K, Truth and Consequences is one of the cheapest areas to buy a home in 2024.
Mesilla
Life in Mesilla is probably how you would picture your retirement. Colorful vistas, adobe buildings, and lots of restaurants to relish as time wiles away. Houses around town have a median home value of $511K in 2024 and range from multi-family homes if you plan to have your family over to small, cozy apartments.
Retirees can walk down the Mesilla Plaza, looking at the items on display and enjoying the cool weather and warm atmosphere. For retirees who are fascinated by the food culture, Andele Restaurant and Double Eagle Restaurant are some of the best establishments here, and you can double down on fine wine at Heart of the Desert Pistachios and Wines, which is Mesilla’s tasting room. For outdoor adventures, take a trip to Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, and you can take a stroll at Saguaro Farms to buy fresh produce. Antique stores such as Cafe de Mesilla and New Mexico Vintage Market retain Messila's cultural essence, and you are sure to find other locals and retirees there, too. In case of an emergency, Three Crosses Regional Hospital in Las Cruces is not far away to cater to your needs.
Grants
Roughly an hour away from Albuquerque, Grants is a vibrant yet undiscovered town in New Mexico that is a beauty to behold. With a median home value estimated at $225K and a population of about 10,000 people, Grants attract retirees, and you should consider retiring there too.
This small village is the county seat of Cibola, but it does not typically feel small. It has attractions that make it feel really close to home. Its Main Street is characterized by shops and boutiques that capture the attention of passersby. Known as the ‘Uranium Capital of the United States,' you can learn about its mining history at the New Mexico Mining Museum. The Cibola Arts Council runs a museum and an art gallery where you can find cool local art and other exhibits to purchase or fit in your gallery. While its history is a major selling point, the Cibola General Hospital is another factor that moves retirees to reside in Grants.
If you plan to live your retirement in the best way possible, then these small towns in New Mexico are worth a try. With good healthcare and a relatively low cost of living, you can save extra cash to fund the retirement of your dreams. From the colorful vistas of Mesilla to the hot springs in Truth or Consequences, there are a lot of things to do that make retirement fun. If you are looking for a place to retire in 2024, consider any of these towns in The Land of Enchantment.
