(photo credit: Jack Arnold Photography)
Looking for the best place in America to retire? Santa Fe was recently chosen by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top 10 best places to retire across the entire world.
The Conde Nast report cites a study by the US News & World Report ranking Santa Fe as one of the top 10 places to “reinvent your life in retirement.”
What makes Santa Fe such a special retirement haven? It’s the combination of the history, the weather, and the laid-back lifestyle. Here are just a few of the reasons why more Americans are choosing to retire in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Why Retire in Santa Fe New Mexico?
Santa Fe is sunny 283 days (average) of the year, there are 250 art galleries and 12 museums, the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains are nearby, and the population is perfect at 83,000.
The Santa Fe Weather:
First and most importantly, retirees love Santa Fe for the weather. It’s sunny for 283 days a year here, on average, with a summer average high of around 82 degrees. Living in a desert, humidity is relatively low: so you won’t get the hot, sticky summers found in other parts of the country.
There also isn’t much precipitation: the average rainfall across the United States is 37 inches of rain per year. In Santa Fe, we get 14 inches of rain per year.
Ultimately, the weather is mild year-round with limited snow during the winter and mild heat during the summer. At an altitude of 7,000 feet, most Santa Fe residents don’t need air conditioning – a ceiling fan does the trick.
As some residents like to explain, we have four seasons here with no extremes in any season. So if you like mild temperatures while still enjoying the passing of the seasons, Santa Fe’s weather can be very desirable.
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The Sangre de Cristo Mountains:
In Santa Fe, you’re 35 minutes away from the ski hill. The nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains also offer plenty of hiking and biking opportunities. Wherever you go in the mountains, you’re treated to amazing views of the state of New Mexico and one of the best sunset views you’ll ever see in your life.
When Santa Fe residents tell visitors there are 12,000 foot peaks nearby, it’s easy to be amazed – until you realize that the city itself sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet. In any case, high mountains are all around us here.
The Rich & Vibrant Culture:
Santa Fe is rich with culture. Despite being a smaller city, Santa Fe is home to 250 art galleries and 12 museums, including the world-famous Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
Some of the world’s best writers also found inspiration in Santa Fe. Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is a longtime resident of Santa Fe, for example.
Several major Hollywood celebrities have also recently purchased homes in the region.
There’s a reason they call Santa Fe “The City Different”.
Accessible Health Care:
Santa Fe’s primary hospital is Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, which has 200 beds and 34 specialties. Meanwhile, the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque is only about an hour away.
Mid-Size Population of Santa Fe:
Are you looking for a small town vibe with big city amenities? Santa Fe, with a population of around 83,000, walks a line somewhere in between. You’re a long way from the busy activity of a big city, but there’s still enough going on to keep residents entertained.
Meanwhile, the bigger city of Albuquerque is about one hour away – so you’re never too far away from anything you need.
Santa Fe is Consistently Ranked as One of America’s Best Retirement Spots:
You don’t have to look far online to find people who agree that Santa Fe is a desirable retirement community.
Conde Nast listed Santa Fe as one of the world’s top 10 best places to retire, for example, and US News and World Report picked Santa Fe as one of the best 10 places to reinvent your life in retirement.
Santa Fe was also chosen by Kiplinger as one of the “10 Great Places to Retire in 2015” and The NY Times listed it as one of the top 15 “dream towns” for retirement.
These rankings consistently praise the strong and diverse economy of Santa Fe as well as the good infrastructure and connectivity to the outside world. They also mention the outdoor lifestyle and the ability to pursue new hobbies in retirement.
Building Your Dream Home in New Mexico:
Want to build your dream home in Santa Fe? Palo Santo Designs, LLC is an award-winning local design build contractor that specializes in the design and construction of fine custom homes, renovations, and distinctive commercial spaces.
With the highest-quality craftsmanship and architectural design standards, Palo Santo Designs can help you retire in style in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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