After looking at the poorest counties in New Mexico, it’s time to examine the other end of the economic spectrum. According to MetaSalary, which uses census data, these ten counties are the richest in the state. That being said, it’s worth noting that only the top two places on this list have median household incomes above the national average.
There are so many reasons that living in New Mexico is the best. However, given that New Mexico’s population hovers at a little over two million and there are roughly 318 million folks living in the U.S., most people haven’t gotten the memo that our state is an awesome place to live. On the one hand, we’d like to keep it that way. Then again, we also feel obliged to share the enchantment of the Land of...well, Enchantment, with others. Here are just a few of the many reasons to move to New Mexico. (Added bonus: this also acts as a public service announcement to inform people that New Mexico is one of the 50 states.)
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1. New Mexican culture is a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences.
5. While we’re on the subject of wine, did you know that New Mexico’s vines are some of the oldest in the country? Monks smuggled them out of Spain and began cultivating them here around 1629!
7. We have three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, Taos Pueblo, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. That's more than any other state.
If you move to New Mexico, you'll never want to leave, or...you'll miss so much.
10. The job market is diverse. Key industries include aerospace and defense, energy, agriculture (chiles in particular), government, and tourism. It’s also one of the few places where you can call yourself an artist without necessarily needing a day job.
13. And it's easy to get out there and explore them. There are more hiking trails here than you could walk in a lifetime. Other fun activities include cycling, horseback riding, climbing, rafting, kayaking, and even ballooning.
The safest cities in New Mexico are worth checking out. There are many wonderful places to call home in the Land of Enchantment. These communities may boast excellent dining, beautiful landscapes, and incredible attractions. However, despite what these cities have to offer, some of them are safer to live in than others. No matter if you have a young family, are single, or retired, you deserve a safe place to call home. A recent report from Safewise listed the top 10 safest places to live in New Mexico in 2021. So if you've ever wondered, "Is New Mexico safe?" here’s a brief overview of Safewise's detailed report.
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According to the Safewise report, which utilizes the most recent FBI crime data, the top 10 safest cities to live in New Mexico in 2021 are Milan, Corrales, Raton, Anthony, Eunice, Rio Rancho, Sunland Park, Truth or Consequences, Edgewood, and Bosque Farms.
Of the top 10 safest cities in New Mexico, Eunice has the lowest violent crime rate and Milan claims the title as the New Mexico city with the lowest property crime rate. In this small town, only four property crimes were reported in the past year.
This Safewise report contains excellent news for all New Mexicans. Violent crime rates are on the decline with 8.3 crimes per 1,000 people. Murder is the least common violent crime in New Mexico and makes up only 1% of violent crimes in the state.
Property crime is also on the decline. According to the report, property crime has dropped from 34.2 crimes per every 1,000 residents to 31.1 crimes. Burglary accounts for 22% of all property crimes among the top 10 safest cities in New Mexico.
Unfortunately, New Mexico is above average when it comes to package theft. Approximately 29% of survey participants report they’ve experienced package theft (while the average in the United States is 20%).
While there are some areas of the state with low crime rates, overall, New Mexico did not rank well on the Safewise report. New Mexico ranked the highest for both violent crimes and property crimes in the Mountain Region. In the entire United States, it ranked second for both crime types.
With higher crime rates than other states, it is no wonder that only three out of every 10 New Mexicans report feeling safe. Additionally, 44% of the survey participants report they use personal protection such as pepper spray, which is greater than the U.S. average of 34%.
What do you think about the safest cities in New Mexico? To see the full Safewise report and to learn more about this survey, visit the Safewise website.
What do you think of the findings in this report? Are there any New Mexico cities that surprised you? Let us know!
