Understated and Sophisticated,
Santa Fe, New Mexico Enchants All Who Enter and Boasts a Rich Cultural
Scene, Unique Architecture and an Easygoing Style
Cost of Living: Above the U.S. National Average
Founded in 1610, enchanting Santa Fe, New Mexico
(population 73,000) has a rich cultural heritage and
attracts artists, historians, musicians, writers, opera
lovers and the occasional celebrity, as well as
retirees. It is the oldest capital city in the United
States and the oldest European
community west of the Mississippi. A somewhat
remote place, the city is located in the high desert, at
7,000 feet above sea level, in the shadow of the Rocky
Mountains' beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountain range.
Outside of the city limits, there really is not much but
prairie, mountains, scrub brush, cacti and coyotes (and
a few historic sites). Inside this unique city, though,
a wonderful world of art, music, architecture, cuisine
and culture awaits. Of the population, 28% is age 45 to
64, and
14% is age 65 or better.
Santa Fe, sophisticated and laid back all at once, exudes an
ambiance not found in many other towns in the United States.
Anglo, Mexican and Indian cultures, mixed together with
Catholicism and rich pagan traditions, create a mystical feeling
in this very chic, yet rustic, Southwestern setting. Pink and
tan adobe houses are nestled behind old garden walls. Bunches of
brilliant red chili peppers hang for sale along roadsides.
Brightly painted wooden doors bedeck century-old dwellings.
Elegant art galleries beckon from nearly every street. Colorful
flower pots adorn window wells. Five-star, open-air restaurants
with well-worn floors and tiled porticos offer everything from
delectable northern Italian cuisine to eye-watering spicy chili
rellenos. The lifestyle here is understated, casual and
affluent. The cost of living is 15% above the national average,
and the citizenry is diverse and politically left-leaning.
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Santa Fe's median home price is $300,000, down 5% in the last
year, and the majority of homes, even new ones, are adobe or
adobe-style (Spanish Pueblo) with tile roofs and charming
courtyards. These building codes first began in the 1920s and
were codified in the 1950s to preserve the city's unique
architectural texture. There are numerous gated enclaves, some
established and some new, and most residences sit behind some
kind of wall. Las Campanas
(homes from the $500,000s) and
Aldea de Santa Fe (with a wide range of home prices) are both
attractive communities and popular with retirees, as is the historic
district on the east side of town.
New Mexico is a mixed bag when it comes
to retirement and taxes. Social Security is taxed, but taxpayers
age 65 and better may be able to exempt up to $8,000 (single)
and $16,000 (joint) from any retirement income source if their
income is less than $28,500 (individual filers) or $51,000
(married filing jointly). Personal income tax
rates top out at 5.3%, but taxpayers age 65 or better may
receive a $10,900 deduction (and an additional tax exemption of
up to $2,500 is allowed for low-income and middle-income
residents). When it comes to property taxes, real estate
is assessed at one third its fair market value. Exemptions
include $2,000 for heads of household and $4,000 for veterans,
and people age 65 or better may receive a $125 per person rebate
if their annual income is $18,000 or less. The annual
taxes on a $300,000 home, without exemptions, are roughly
$1,260.
Artists love Santa Fe, making it the world's third
largest art market with nearly 300 art galleries and dealers.
Each August the juried Santa Fe Indian Market, held in the Old
Town Plaza, attracts 1,200 Native American artists from 100
tribes and is the place to find authentic, high-quality Native
American art. More than 100,000 people attend the Market each
year. The outdoor Santa Fe Opera is world famous, attracting
renowned guest artists, and it has a vibrant summer season. The
six week long Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival brings in
musicians from around the globe. The New Mexico Symphony
Orchestra presents a full schedule, and there
are several theater and dance companies. The Georgia
O'Keeffe Museum houses 1,100 of her sculptures and paintings,
and the Institute of American Indian Arts has the nation's most
comprehensive display of contemporary Indian art. The sprawling
Santa Fe Farmers' Market is in its 43rd year, and the nearly
300-year-old Santa Fe Fiesta, a celebration of the city, is the
oldest community event in the country.
There
are dozens of historic sites in and around town, from
ancient Native American ruins to Spanish Colonial churches,
including the wonderful Loretto
Chapel. Not to be missed is its "miracle staircase."
According to
legend, in 1872, the Bishop of the Santa Fe Archdiocese
commissioned a chapel to be built for the Sisters of Loretto,
but the architect in charge of the building died before a
staircase to the choir loft could be built. The Sisters prayed
for a way to reach the loft and one day a stranger appeared.
He locked himself in the chapel for three months and with just a few
primitive tools, fashioned a beautiful, 20-foot high spiral
staircase with non-native wood, no nails and no center support.
He disappeared before the Sisters could thank him, and even today, the staircase is considered impressive (although
historians now think the mystery man was Francois-Jean
"Frenchy" Rochas, a French woodworker, and that the
staircase was wholly imported from France).
Click Arrow to Visit Santa Fe
Old mining towns, cattle
ranches and a Civil War battlefields
are all within a few miles of Santa Fe. New Mexico's warm climate allows for year-round outdoor
recreation, and national and state parks not far off in the
Sangre de Cristos provide an abundance of hiking, camping,
bicycling and fishing venues. The Santa Fe Ski Area, 16 miles from downtown, has a 12,000 foot summit
and 40 runs. Golf is available year-round at several local
courses.
Santa Fe Trails Transit provides public transportation.
Fares are
$1.00 (and $.50 for those age 60+).
Albuquerque International Airport is an hour away and services
most major airlines. I-25 is an interstate highway that runs
north to Denver, Colorado (six to seven hours) and south to
Albuquerque (one hour).
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical
Center, the primary medical facility with 195 beds, is
accredited by the Joint Commission and accepts Medicaid and
Medicare patients. The facility meets the
national averages in most areas, but the number of patients who
would recommend it to a friend or relative is below the national
average. Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, 65
miles away, and Los Alamos Medical Center in Alamos, 35 miles
away, receive higher ratings and are also accredited by the
Joint Commission. For military retirees, Albuquerque
has a VA hospital.
The city's Division of Senior Services
provides a good selection of programs and activities, including
classes (painting, ceramics, fitness, woodworking, etc.), trips,
taxes help, Meals on Wheels, congregate meals,
transportation, Senior Olympics, health screenings and more. It
also operates seven senior centers. Retirees will also be glad
to know that Santa Fe's crime rate is no higher than the
national average.
The elevation here helps moderate the
summer heat, but in July, it can still reach the 90s or higher
during the day. January temperatures
can dip into the 30s, but the average day temperature is 45
degrees. The sun shines, on average, 300 days a year.
It
rarely
rains, and there is very little humidity (on the comfort index,
a combination or temperature and humidity, Santa Fe ranks well
above the national average). Fall is generally the best season, with temperatures in
the upper 60s and low 70s.
For all of its low key charm, Santa Fe
has some drawbacks. The medical facilities
are not as good as would be expected. The city is a bit
isolated, although it is not far from a major interstate.
The
area is filled with Juniper trees, which may trigger
allergic reactions. Some people think Santa Fe is
somewhat pretentious, and there seems to be some resistance to newcomers. Having grown by 15% in just the last
decade, Santa Fe may be tiring of people "discovering" it.
It also has obvious class lines. A middle class does not seem to
exist, at least not in large numbers. And tourists, up to one million a
year, come in droves.
Even with these issues, and they are not insignificant, Santa
Fe is still a little
bit mystical and a little bit magical. For retirees
seeking a liberal, laid back Southwestern destination, one
bursting with history, art and wonderful architecture, it might
even be a little bit perfect.
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