New Mexico: the Land of Enchantment. The American Southwest is a gorgeous setting, and it’s a great place for you to start your new life. Moving to New Mexico for work, school, retirement, or simply for a change of scenery can be a big change. If you’re moving for work or school, you may not have an option as to where you live. But if you get to decide where you’re moving and are a member of the LGBT community, you may want to find a city that’s going to be welcoming.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico, and it’s rated as one of the cities with the highest quality of life overall. The city hosts its annual Pride Parade every September, and it’s attended by people from around the state. In addition to having a thriving LGBT community, Santa Fe is also known for its unique architecture, art galleries, and other boutique stores. Home prices are fairly affordable, too.
Albuquerque
The second major city in New Mexico and the largest in population, Albuquerque is known for its amazing arts culture. The city is also home to a number of museums and other amenities. Its school system is also surprisingly good, and classes have a low student to teacher ratio. However, home prices are fairly high, so be ready to pay a bit more for your housing here.
The LGBT community in Albuquerque is thriving, which should come as no surprise. The city hosts its own pride festival every year, and many visit the city even when it’s not Pride time.
Hobbs
But both Albuquerque and Santa Fe are fairly large cities. Hobbs, on the other hand, is a bit smaller. If you’d rather have that small-town feel, it might be a better fit for you. The city has a very low unemployment rate, plus it features some of the best little coffee shops, restaurants, and boutique shops around. The city is very welcoming, and there are a number of LGBT families and individuals making their lives here.
Other Great Places to Live
There are several other great cities in New Mexico you might consider if you’re set on moving to the state. Grants, Eunice, and Corrales are all good options, as are Socorro and Bernalillo. No matter where you plan to live, contact a gay or lesbian real estate agent first to assist you in finding the home that best fits your needs and budget.
