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Santa Fe, NM

Name: Santa Fe, NM
Rating: 3.2

Population: 82,927

Key findings

Santa Fe has a Livability Score of 65_/100, which is considered below average
Santa Fe crime rates are 40% lower than the New Mexico average
Cost of living in Santa Fe is 14% higher than the New Mexico average
Santa Fe real estate prices are 61% higher than the New Mexico average
Rental prices in Santa Fe are 22% higher than the New Mexico average

Best Places to Live in and Around Santa Fe

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Compare Santa Fe, NM Livability

What do the locals think about Santa Fe?

28%Family friendly 38%Public transit is accessible 38%Walkable to grocery stores 34%Yards are well-kept 45%Lots of parks 48%Walkable to restaurants 48%Friendly neighbors 52%Safe at night 55%Pet friendly 48%Streets have sidewalks 59%A quiet area 59%Sense of community

Based on 29 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Santa Fe poll results.

Santa Fe Real estate & Rental prices

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Santa Fe Demographics

Population82,927 Median Age42.9 Have Kids (under 18)40%

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Top Rated Schools in Santa Fe

Name	Grades	Students	Proficiency
Wood-Gormley Elementary School	KG - 6	334	65%
Mandela International Magnet (Mims)	7 - 11	208	57%
Carlos Gilbert Elementary School	KG - 6	340	55%
Nm School For The Arts	9 - 12	220	52%
Acequia Madre Elementary School	KG - 6	168	52%
San Ildefonso Day School	1 - 6	27	50%
Academy For Tech & Class	7 - 12	387	50%
Santa Fe Engage	9 - 12	35	50%

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The best places in New Mexico

Here are the best places to live in New Mexico

10 Best cities in New Mexico for employment

Top 10 cities in New Mexico with the best education system

These are the 10 most affordable cities in New Mexico

Santa Fe Reviews

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Once a Friendly Small City..not Now!

Attractions5/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining3/10

Shopping1/10

Once a small friendly city, now crowded with rude west and east coast transplants. High rents, crowded streets and dangerous drivers and high crime rate. The local police do their best, but their hands are tied by liberal judges, incompetent prosecutors and politicians.

7 -19

It is awful.

Attractions2/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining4/10

Shopping1/10

I made the move to Santa Fe a little under a year ago and it has been awful.

Santa Fe appears tp be this idyllic little city but it is far from it. It is a third world country replete with the obligatory political corruption, graft and demarcation between the haves and have nots.

The people of Santa Fe are some of the meanest, side, condescending and arrogant I have encountered (and I was in LA prior to moving here!) There is little to no authenticity here and the level of insincerity is off the charts. Fake artists, writers and "creatives" flood the streets of Santa Fe.

The cost of living is not worth what you get in this hellhole. And it is a hellhole, the entire state is a hellhole. Yes, there are some aesthetically beautiful areas but they are few and far between, and usually dotted with heroin and meth addicts and compounds.

15 -14

Santa Fe's superficial, lacks integrity.

Attractions1/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining1/10

Shopping2/10

The new young professionals are discriminate here and don't know it's suppose to be about being of service to the customer or patient. It's about the client being of service to the non thinking professionals, not helping the client or even the patient. It's gotten really superficial. They pick and choose who they will work with, so if you're older, and like need a chiropractor, lawyer or banker or healer, they won't work with you. They want the young rich and healthy only. Rude and unprofessional, especially the chiropractors and healers so watch out for them. My life got broken when I trusted the realtor, the mortgage banker, the lawyer and the healers to help my life. It's not about serving the client here. It's about the professional helping themselves and not caring about the client. I've been treated horrible by the chiropractors in Santa Fe because I didn't stroke their egos when I was in horrible pain. They didn't care at all and are so gutless they don't even talk or respond to you. They just want young, pretty and healthy so they don't have to think or work. Santa Fe is shallow and superficial anymore. They don't even know how to think. They just assume their cute and got one up - which most of them aren't even smart. Lots of people with out any integrity who don't put the client or anyone else first. It's all yadayadayada anymore. And to top it all off the men don't know how to treat women here - or even pay for dinner.

10 -15

Worst Decision Ever

Attractions1/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining1/10

Shopping1/10

I was told to move here by my family. Turns out they hate it here too, just missed me. There is nothing to do here at all. Housing here is horrible. Unless you love tight rooms with no where to move stay out of new Mexico especially Santa Fe. Minimum wage is almost 11 but rent is ungodly even a studio runs from 900 to 1 grand a month. Wouldn't be bad if there was stuff to do but there isn't. Life here sucks. Most people live in Albuquerque and work here causing the city Millions if not billions a year. Which costs us in price hikes. Avoid this town at all cost. This review is truly New Mexico True.oh almost forgot customer service here sucks. Local think this place is paradise but trust me they have never seen the out side world.

9 -8

I Lived In Santa Fe, NM

Attractions8/10

Community8/10

Nightlife9/10

Dining9/10

Shopping8/10

When I lived in Santa Fe, NM, I had a small apartment that was medium priced. I found that it was in a fairly decent area to live, but would much rather have lived in the nicer area. When people are relocating to Santa Fe, NM, they should make sure they are looking in areas that have a safe and secure neighborhood. They will want to find somewhere to live that is relatively close to where they are working. For professional opportunities in Santa Fe, it will all depend on how the economy is doing. When the economy is doing well, there will be plenty of work to choose from.

For restaurants and nightlife, I loved living in Santa Fe, NM for the short time that I did. I found that there were plenty of places that served an array of cuisines that I adored. The clubs and bars in the area provided for some very fun nights out on the town. There are plenty of neat attractions that will let people have plenty to do on weekends and days off from their work. This definitely brings more people into the area, because they like the choices that they have when they want to have fun.

Shopping was decent in Santa Fe. I found that the smaller shops provided a better choice for gifts when I was looking for something to send home during birthdays and holidays. The specialty shops come and go in the area, but they usually provide excellent places to find unique clothing and accessories.

7 -2

working professional

Attractions8/10

Community6/10

Nightlife6/10

Dining6/10

Shopping8/10

Santa Fe is a beautiful city with a very rich cultural heritage and amazing art scene. A great place to vacation or be if you are a professional couple without children. As a parent and working professional, it is really challenging to make ends meet and to provide your children with educational advantages that you will find in many other cities with a much lower cost of living. As you research, you will find a wide variety of stats regarding the school systems graduation rates and test scores. In the end, the results are bleak and you will come to conclusion that many working professional parents do...you must pay for private middle and high school education or move. That being said, there appears to be a sort of "brain drain" happening in Santa Fe where working professionals with children simply make the choice to move away...

3 0

The City Different.....Indeed!

Attractions6/10

Community8/10

Nightlife4/10

Dining4/10

Shopping7/10

I've lived in Santa Fe for 16 years now. My wanderlust tells me it's time to move on. So, off I go visiting first the West , then the North..and on and on. But she always draws me back. Coming over the pass from Albuquerque , when you first see her, she enfolds you. Warm and welcoming. I don't know if it's the Pinon scented air. The majesty of the mountains that surround her or the kindness of her people. Like I said, I'd like to leave, try new places, but as long as i wake up to her brilliant skies and the smell of roasting green chiles...I'm here to stay.

6 -5

The Artsy World of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Attractions10/10

Community9/10

Nightlife8/10

Dining8/10

Shopping10/10

Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the largest artist colonies around. Okay, so not everyone that lives in Santa Fe is an artist. But, you will find far more artist living in this grand city that you will any where else. The artistry doesn't just expand to the usual of paintings and other visual artistry of the caliber, but many writers also live in Santa Fe. Many say that they are drawn to the area, that it is a place that calls to you.

On many occasions while living in New Mexico, I've visited Santa Fe for a number of wonderful reasons one of which is the Southwest Writer's Conference. This is a huge culmination of great writing minds that come together each year. Writer's, publishers, editors and many other beings in the writing world come together for one very important focus, writing. Writer's attend to find ways of showcasing their work and finding a publishing company that would be interested, publishers to find that next great piece, editors to help many writers take their work to new levels. Let us not forget the literary agents that also attend, they help get the writer's work seen and published.

After spending time at a writer's conference, my inspiration has always grown and made me want to see more of the wonderful sites of Santa Fe, this has drawn me out to many of the fabulous museums through out the city. One of the most well known is the Museum of International Folk Art of Santa Fe. The museum show cases are work for all around the world, mixed media art for example; paintings that aren't just paintings but have bits and bobbles that pop out of the painting or quilts that have been created by artists from around the world. How about gorgeous gourds that have been turned into vases and purses. This museum is extremely eclectic in what is displayed on a regular basis, you will be amazed at what you will find.

George O'Keefe Museum of Santa Fe is another great museum to wonder through, paintings from many wonderful artist, sculptures that make you want to strive with your own artistic abilities. You will walk away in awe at the many great pieces you will find.

Museums are the only place in Santa Fe that you will find beautiful artistry, there are many chapels around Santa Fe that also have beautiful pieces as well one such chapel is Loretto Chapel filled with the grand history of the city of Santa Fe. Beautiful stained glass windows that have stood for many years, beautiful paintings of saints through out the chapel and so much more. Just sitting in the Loretto Chapel is said to bring peace and understanding to many visitors. Some people have sat for many hours just contemplating and drinking in the beauty and history of Loretto Chapel.

If you want a great adventure into the world of art, you will fall in love with Santa Fe New, New Mexico for it has to offer.

5 -1

She Weaves a Spell: Santa Fe, NM

Attractions9/10

Community9/10

Nightlife6/10

Dining6/10

Shopping9/10

I fell in love with Santa Fe, New Mexico, the first time I visited 15 years ago. Since then the city has drawn me back more than a dozen times. I never get tired of sitting in the Plaza, buying a beautiful piece of turquoise jewelry from the vendors, or eating at the Pink Adobe. I revel in the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, that offer splendid works of art inspired by the high desert landscape.

New Mexico is called The Land of Enchantment and Santa Fe embodies that spirit. From its adobe architecture and pinon scented air, to its blend of cultures and history, Santa Fe is a fascinating city to visit at all times of the year. Go in summer and you will be rewarded with dry warm days and the sights of the Plaza filled with art festivals such as Indian Market and Spanish Market. Go at Christmas and walk through the narrow streets past homes lit with holiday luminaries. Years later, I still get compliments on a beautiful southwest style jacket I bought at Moxie on W. San Francisco Street. I think it's time to return to magical Santa Fe!

4 -1

Source: The Santa Fe, NM data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Santa Fe, NM

Key findings

Best Places to Live in and Around Santa Fe

Compare Santa Fe, NM Livability

What do the locals think about Santa Fe?

How Do You Rate The Livability In Santa Fe?

Santa Fe Real estate & Rental prices

Santa Fe Demographics

Top Rated Schools in Santa Fe

The best places in New Mexico

Santa Fe Reviews