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Southwestern Desert City of Las Cruces, New Mexico Draws Retirees in Search of Affordable Housing, Wide-Open Spaces, Dry Climate and Unhurried Lifestyle
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
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Just 40 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas, in a 4,000 foot high fertile valley edged by the Organ Mountains, the relaxed city of Las Cruces, New Mexico (population 95,000), is a growing metropolis that is becoming increasingly popular with retirees. This is a land that has been home to Spanish explorers, Mexican revolutionaries and Apache Indians, not to mention the infamous Billy the Kid and his nemesis Sheriff Pat Garrett. Local legend has it that Las Cruces got its name ("White Crosses" in English) in 1830 when Apaches killed local settlers and grieving survivors marked their graves with crosses. Today, a new breed of settlers is coming to Las Cruces and discovering a dry, sunny climate, a mellow pace, affordable living and a diverse culture. The cost of living is 5% below the national average, and of the population, 20% is age 45 to 64, and 13% is age 65 or better.
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A colorful history, much of it under the Mexican flag, has greatly influenced the architecture, with western-style adobe buildings, similar to what is found in Santa Fe, dominant. Homes in town tend to be older and smaller; newer subdivisions on the outskirts of the city generally have larger homes. The median three-bedroom home price of $170,000 will fetch a newer, attractive, 2,000 sq. ft., adobe-style dwelling with two stories, four bedrooms, two and a half baths and an attached 2-car garage. Homes can be found for less than $100,000, but residences in the $150,000 to $300,000 range are most plentiful. Dwellings in the higher ranges often come with terracotta tile roofs, an outdoor kitchen and tile floors. The city is in the Chihuahua Desert eco-region, so xeriscaping, using drought-resistant vegetation that does not require supplemental irrigation, is the preferred landscaping.
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Las Cruces also has a number of active adult communities. Trails West is an attractive, gated, manufactured home development. Fairway Village on the Picacho Hills Golf Course is a private, gated community, and the Boulders on the Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is a new, upscale development with homes starting in the mid-$200,000s.
Residential properties are taxed at a rate of approximately $28 per $1,000 on 33.3% of appraised value. The taxable value may be reduced by exemptions of $2,000 for heads of household and by $4,000 for veterans. Homeowners age 65 or better who earn $18,000 or less annually are eligible for a credit of up to $250 (married filing jointly) or $125 (single taxpayers).
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Regarding personal income taxes, residents age 65 or better receive up to a $10,900 deduction from taxable income. An additional tax exemption of up to $2,500 is allowed for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Anyone who is 100 years old or better pays no income tax whatsoever!
When it comes to retirement income, the state offers a low- and middle income exemption (up to $2,500) if the adjusted gross income is equal to or less than $36,667 (single) or $55,000 (married filing jointly). A deduction also applies for those 65 and older if their adjusted gross income is less than $51,000 (joint return) or $28,500 (single return).
People who live in the southwest often talk about a subtle, intangible mysticism the permeates the land. Around Las Cruces, it is most often felt when the landscape, a combination of high desert, mountains and the green Mesilla Valley, is awash in the warm glow of a New Mexico sunset. Anglo, Spanish, Native American and Mexican cultures have all made their mark here, and today the city remains ethnically diverse (Spanish is heard as often as English). Residents generally lean to the left politically, and life proceeds at a leisurely, laid back pace.
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Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University (population 15,000), which adds a youthful flavor, and people age 65 or better can take University classes at a reduced rate. The Dona Ana Community College offers classes for retirees, too, and the Academy for Learning in Retirement, which is offered through the College, has classes and workshops designed especially for the age 50+ demographic.
The weather here makes it easy to play outside nearly year-round. There are four golf courses, and the nearby Organ Mountains and Dona Ana Mountains are perfect for hiking, camping and fishing. Caballo Reservoir and Elephant Butte Lake, both on the Rio Grande near the neighboring town of Truth or Consequences, are within 65 miles.
Cultural amenities do not match those found in larger cities, but the NMSU music department mounts jazz and classical concerts, and the Las Cruces Symphony performs regularly. Residents enjoy several local theatre companies, including the American Southwest Theatre Company and the Las Cruces Community Theater, as well as four city-operated museums. Festivals include the Whole Enchilada Fiesta, southern New Mexico's most popular festival, in which a giant flat tortilla is fashioned. The local Day of the Dead Festival, originated in Mexico, celebrates of the lives of those now deceased, and the Renaissance ArtsFaire features a juried art show. For book fans, the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library has a growing collection and 25 public computers with internet access.
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Las Cruces also has its share of community and social clubs. The Branigan Cultural Center offers a variety of classes and workshops. The Las Cruces Arts and Crafts Association is open to anyone with an interest in arts and crafts. Senior Voyagers is a travel group for seniors. Big Band Seniors meets every Thursday for ballroom dancing. The Mesilla Valley Concert Band is a group of 80 musicians who give numerous performances. Mesilla Valley Folk Dancers meet every Wednesday. The Las Cruces Book Club is a book discussion group. Mesilla Valley Writers is a group for fiction and non-fiction writers at all levels. The Lions, Shriners and Kiwanis are all active. Las Cruces also has more than fifty churches (representing 31 denominations).
And always fun is the Old Mesilla Village, now a suburb of Las Cruces, but at one time the capital of the Arizona Territory, a stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage Route and even a Confederate Army headquarters. This is a restored village that captures the fascinating history and culture of the area (the centerpiece is the 1851 St. Albino's Church). Cafes and shops selling Navajo and Hopi jewelry now dot the town square, but in days gone by, Kit Carson came to visit, and Billy the Kid spent time in the Mesilla jailhouse.
Public transportation (scheduled bus service) is provided by Roadrunner Transit (although it does not run on Sundays). People age 60 and better and those with disabilities ride for $.50. The city also offers Dial-A-Ride Senior Transportation. Interstate 25 runs through the city, connecting it to Albuquerque and to El Paso, Texas.
The city has four senior centers for those age 50 and above (Robert Munson Senior Center, Benavidez Community Center, Eastside Community Center and Mesilla Park Community Center), and each offers a variety of services and programs that include transportation, hot meals, in-home services, volunteer opportunities, arts and crafts, exercise programs, educational and recreational classes. The local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is also active. Las Cruces is one of the country's fastest growing metropolitan areas, booming by 25% in the last decade, and since many newcomers are retirees, more and more relevant services are sure to come as well.
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There are two hospitals. Memorial Medical Center is the primary care center. This 286-bed facility offers surgical services, emergency services, acute care services, cardiac services, cancer services and much more. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and accepts Medicaid and Medicare patients. Mountain View Regional Medical Center has 123 beds and also accepts Medicaid and Medicare patients. For military retirees, the nearest VA hospital is in El Paso, Texas, 45 miles away.
It gets very hot here, but the humidity is ridiculously low, averaging just 27%. Summer temperatures can reach into the low 100s, but 94 degrees is the daytime average (evenings bring temperatures averaging 76 degrees). Winter daytime temperatures average 55 degrees (evening temperatures are in 20s and 30s). The area receives eight inches of rain a year, much of which comes in summer afternoon thunderstorms. There are 295 days of sunshine each year.
There are drawbacks to retirement here. The city is experiencing growing pains, and crime rates are slightly above the national average. Snakes have been known to take up residence, albeit briefly, in people's homes. There is no distinct downtown, and some residents complain about dusty winds during the summer. New Mexico is a poor state, and vestiges of this are evident around town. The air quality and water quality are both below the national average. Las Cruces also seems to be set in its ways - when relocating it is best to accept things as they are because change sometimes meets resistance.
Despite these negatives, Las Cruces continues to grow, and for retirees ready to let go of cold winters, high humidity, gray skies and big city stresses, this southwestern metropolis, with is diverse culture, easy living and warm climate, is definitely worth a look at retirement time.
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New Mexico Real Estate Active Adult
Developments in Las Cruces Retirement Communities
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