POPULATION: 67,947
MEDIAN AGE: 41
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY: $52,045
MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $306,400
VOTES: 585 (2.7%)
Adobe buildings and art galleries are as abundant as Texas tourists paying too much for turquoise. And, yes, tourist dollars, along with the film industry (No Country for Old Men, The Avengers), are two of the biggest moneymakers in town. That's a good thing. No major industrial presence means the second-cleanest skies in the nation, and the out-of-state dollars help support New York City—caliber restaurants and the venerable Santa Fe Opera. For locals, there's also a vibrant farmers' market and probably more natural foods per capita than anywhere. And because it's situated in the high desert of northern New Mexico, the City Different is also a sportsman's paradise—Colorado-style mountains without the crowds.
Staying Power: Santa Fe, which celebrated its 400th anniversary last fall, maintains that old Southwest character—donkey-cart-wide streets and red-chile ristras—but it's also taken a progressive approach to the future. In 2006, it was the first city in the nation to accept the 2030 Challenge, a call to make all municipal buildings carbon-neutral by 2030. Last summer the city installed a hydroelectric plant downstream of its water-treatment facility, meaning that municipal water runs through energy-generating turbines on its way to household taps—the only such system in the country.
Playgrounds: The Dale Ball Trails, five minutes away in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, are a classic for after-work romps, and by year's end the city will add 3.4 miles of trails to the La Tierra multi-use system just north of town. Forty-five minutes away, the subalpine valleys and low peaks of the Jemez Mountains, even despite this year's fires, remain a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and, in winter, cross-country skiers. North, the famous steeps of Taos Ski Valley beckon.
The Voters Speak: "Easy access to tons of trails—Dale Ball, La Tierra, Atalaya—within 15 minutes of home." "A world-class opera, marvelous vistas, and clear blue skies." "Has more great restaurants and art galleries per capita than any city in the U.S."
Comments
Does anyone know what brand of bicycle is pictured here?
Flag ThisSanta Fe is more like Ashland, in that both cities have a traditional downtown area that is very walkable and not that commercialized. Whereas Bend, Durango, Flagstaff, and Boulder have taller buildings, an emphasis on mixed use, and significant retail commerce downtown, in areas clogged with traffic. I prefer the "quieter" downtown areas of Santa Fe and Ashland. However, Santa Fe and Ashland share something else in common that may be positive or negative. They have the so-called "rich liberals" who like the theater next to the "hippies." In Ashland they do not always get along and they're always discussing banning people on the streets. In Santa Fe, I'm not sure if they get along or not. Santa Fe is an easier smaller town to make a living in compared to others on this list because Albuquerque is nearby, with lots of employers such as Intel. And, Santa Fe has the very successful Genzyme. However the commute between the two cities, 2000' elevation gain, is too much for some people. On the other hand, Santa Fe (the Capital) certainly has lots of state government jobs, and the minimum wage is a LIVING wage (like in San Francisco). However, like Arizona, it's difficult to break into Santa Fe and Albuquerque, since they prefer to hire locals. Many people end up returning back to the West or East coast, wherever they came from.
Flag ThisYAY for being local!
Flag ThisHow is the crime in Santa Fe? We are considering moving there, but have been put off slightly by the high crime stats. Are there certain parts of town that are safer to live in without breaking the bank?
Flag Thishttp://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Santa-Fe-burglary-rate-dips
Flag Thishttp://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Santa-Fe-burglary-rate-dips
Flag ThisWe moved here from Colorado, and love the real Mexico... All of the attributes, geographic references and praise of the local art and restaurants are correct as sited. However, the author makes no mention of Santa Fe's citizens -- relocaters beware! These are the most depressed, un-athletic, un-motivated, entitled (meaning welfare state), and all around socially inept group of people that we've ever encountered. Don't move here unless you like lots of alone time.
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