What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Santa Fe?

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Santa Fe is one of those cities that is so well-known, you don’t even have to mention the state it’s in. (It’s New Mexico, by the way!) The city has seen a massive burst in growth, ever since the mid-60s. Once a major hippie hotspot out in the desert, this booming desert community has a lot of good to offer the right family. The question is, are you the right type of person for a place like Santa Fe?

People who move to Santa Fe love the great weather, high levels of diversity, strong job market, and awesome art scene. The pitfalls of life in Santa Fe include sky-high housing prices, a lack of a decent nightlife scene, and the dust that seems to creep into every home from the desert.

Moving to Santa Fe can be a good choice, but it also can be a major mistake for some. It’s important to know the pros and cons before you hit this hot desert city.

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What Are The Perks Of Living In Santa Fe, NM?

If you are looking for a place to call home that has that classic Southwest charm, Santa Fe is a good choice. Santa Fe is still cheap compared to the cost of living in Santa Cruz. With a nice house in the area, you can expect to enjoy these awesome perks every single day.

Nice Weather

Did you spend a lot of time in a cold place like St. Paul or North Dakota? Maybe Alaska? If so, then you’re probably tired of all the snow and ice. I cannot blame you. The weather in Santa Fe is one of the biggest draws. It’s warm, rarely ever rains, and it’s dry. So, you never have to worry about snowstorms and hurricanes.

The weather in Santa Fe is hot during the summer (like 80 degrees, hot), but it’s never too hot. Santa Fe is fairly temperate, which means that you won’t see many days where the temperatures tip 100 degrees. Do you know what you will get, though? Over 300 days of sunshine per year. That sunlight fuels the excellent economy, and it also helps fuel that amazing tourism industry taking hold.

Excellent Diversity

Many parts of the country are known for having low diversity levels. This can leave many families feeling left out. Santa Fe is not one of those cities. It’s actually one of the most diverse in the country. 47 percent of the population of Santa Fe is Latino or Hispanic. There’s also a thriving African American community and a Native American community in and around the area.

Of course, racial diversity isn’t the only perk in terms of diversity. You’ll also see that the people here have personalities and backgrounds that are as diverse as they come. You will be able to find everything from straight-laced conservatives to hippies who love to live wild in Santa Fe. There’s literally a group for every person here.

The Strong Job Market

The job market that Santa Fe offers is one that would make many other cities turn green with envy…or plant life, actually. The agriculture sector in Santa Fe is one of the strongest in the nation, and people are hiring all the time here. Both plant and animal agriculture thrive here. Some of the more popular goods produced here include pork, hay, chilis, and cotton. The mining sector is a close second, with gas and coal regularly being made here.

Due to the high demand for raw goods, the unemployment rate has stayed at a fairly respectable 7.6 percent in recent years. The median household income is not that bad either, at around $57,972. This puts the city at around the same income levels as the national average.

Awesome Arts And Culture

Ooh, as a culture fan, I’d be stoked to live in Santa Fe. This is one New Mexican city that is literally oozing culture out of every corner. The area is famous for having multiple arts and music festivals throughout the year, especially when it comes to the annual contemporary art festival. The city regularly receives internationally famous artists to its doors.

Along with a very popular arts community, Santa Fe also happens to have incredible food. If you love authentic Mexican fare, want to try genuine Navajo treats, or just want to see what the top chefs in the luxury world have to offer, you’ll love hanging out there. Did we mention that there are tons of food-related events? It’s a gastronomic paradise.

After that, you can hit up one of the major historic museums or sites throughout the city.

What Are The Pitfalls Of Living In Santa Fe, NM?

The lifestyle that you will get in Santa Fe is not for everyone. Some people might find it to be too much for them. If you are worried about fitting into this hip city, these issues might make you rethink your move…

High Housing Prices

Santa Fe is very strange these days. Due to high investment purchases from wealthy elites, the price of housing has skyrocketed in recent years. The average home price for a house in this city’s limits will be $610,000. Rent isn’t cheap either, with the average rent topping $2,200. Many locals are starting to feel “priced out” due to the high price tag of just moving in.

The good news here is that things like groceries and heating will be low in cost…if you can afford to move here, anyway. Most people do not want to shell out that kind of money for shelter. The cost of living in Santa Fe can be high, and that includes housing prices.

Bad Schools

Santa Fe has some of the lowest-rated schools in the state. Below-average test scores, extremely low graduation rates, and violent gang activity inside school buildings make this a bad choice for college-bound kids. ‘Nuff said.

A Lack Of A Nightlife Scene

This might strike you as odd, especially since this city is famous for having a pretty impressive arts scene. As popular as Santa Fe is for artists, it doesn’t have a very popular nightlife scene. In fact, it’s actually pretty hard to find nightclubs and the like around town. Sure, there are occasional bars and lounges you can go to, but it’s not the same as a club club.

While you might be able to see some cool concerts within the city’s limits, there’s not really a traditional nightlife to speak of. This can make life for a career DJ almost impossible to achieve unless you want to do tons of weddings and birthday parties. On a similar note, if you’re a fan of electronica or hip hop, you might feel pretty upset about the lack of quality venues.

Check out the 10 biggest cities in New Mexico.

The Dust

Dust is an issue that we cannot help but discuss. Due to the desert areas and all the traffic, much of Santa Fe has a dust problem. Like, a bit dust problem. The dust gets into homes fairly quickly, especially if it’s a windy day. In some extreme cases, you might also see dust storms. When these happen, visibility can be seriously affected for hours or even days.

If you have laundry that is hung out to dry during a dust storm, then you will need to wash it again. Heck, you will also need to vacuum the area you live in if you want to avoid too much dust. Thankfully, the dust in question usually isn’t the type of dust that triggers allergic reactions. If it was, people like the author of this article will not be able to visit Santa Fe at all.

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Related Questions

Is Santa Fe a safe place to live?

Santa Fe can be safe, but it’s a mixed situation. Studies revealed that property crimes are around 55 percent higher than the national average within city limits. This means that you’re more likely to be pickpocketed, robbed, or have your car stolen in Santa Fe. However, violent crime is slightly lower than the national average. So, it’s not as physically dangerous as the high crime rates may make you think.In recent years, the police force has managed to help reduce the crime rates in the city. The community has started to improve on methods of crime reduction too, so this is actually a promising start to a safer Santa Fe.


Does Santa Fe have a pest problem?

Yes, sadly. Santa Fe has a massive cockroach problem since four different types of roaches live in the city. If the roaches don’t get you, then the centipedes, scorpions, and black widow spiders might. While these insects are rarer than the ubiquitous roach, the truth is that they’re common enough to make investing in a good exterminator a smart idea. Unlike what you might see in New York, the pests in this area can physically harm you.


What is the most important music landmark in Santa Fe?

If you ask historians, it would have to be the Santa Fe Opera House. This massive theater has a gorgeous architectural look dating back to the 19th century and also hosts much of the musical talent that passes through town. If you love the fine arts, then you need to check it out. It’s awesome.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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