In 2024, Mexico has introduced several tourist taxes, including the Mexico Visitor Tax (VisiTAX) and the Mexico Visitor Tax Cancun. The Mexican government imposes these taxes on all tourists entering the country by air or sea, with the goal of improving tourism infrastructure. The tax is usually included in the price of hotels or vacation rentals, and is aimed at reducing the cost of tourism for foreigners and Mexicans residing abroad.
New Mexico has 105 cities, with Albuquerque being the largest and Bernalillo the fastest-growing. Guests booking Airbnb listings in Albuquerque will pay lodgers’ tax as part of their reservation. The lodgers’ tax in Albuquerque is 7.625, while there are additional lodgers taxes on hotels and a Tourism Marketing District Assessment.
Hotelity and tourism are a leading economic driver for New Mexico, contributing $693 million in state and local tax. In the City of Gallup, the Lodgers’ Tax is managed by the Tourism and Marketing department and is used to award grant funds to qualified applicants. The Occupancy Tax, also known as Lodgers Tax, provides a “minimum revenue” guarantee to promote tourism travel.
Quintana Roo, Mexico, charges a one-off tourist payment of 224 Mexican pesos (around $13) to visit any destination in the region. Understanding how tourist taxes work, the issues they aim to solve, and reviewing the main types of tourist taxes can help travelers plan their trip more effectively.
📹 10 Shocking Truths Why People Won’t Move to New Mexico
The Shocking Truths Why People Won’t Move to New Mexico New Mexico is a beautiful state with a lot to offer, but there are also …
What is Taos city tax?
The current sales tax rates in New Mexico, including those in Taos, are 4%. The current sales tax rates in New Mexico, including Taos, are as follows: 8. 8%, 0%, and 4. 3%, respectively. The minimum combined sales tax rate for Taos in the year 2024 is 4. 3%. The 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. has had a significant impact on state nexus laws and sales tax collection requirements. For a review of the regulations in New Mexico, please refer to the state-by-state guide.
What taxes do you pay in New Mexico?
New Mexico is a tax-friendly state in the U. S., offering numerous economic incentives and tax breaks on personal and corporate income. It does not have inheritance, estate, or franchise taxes, but does have a statewide gross receipts tax, which is passed on to consumers by businesses. The state income tax ranges from 1. 7 to 4. 9, and New Mexico residents are subject to the personal income tax, as well as nonresidents who work in the state or derive income from property there.
Regular military salaries of New Mexico residents serving in the U. S. military are subject to the tax, but active-duty military salaries have been exempt since 2007. The personal income tax rates range from 1. 7 to 4. 9, within four income brackets.
Are there local taxes in New Mexico?
The state collects local option taxes in the same manner as state gross receipts tax, with the state rate of 5. 125 serving as the base. The county’s portion is added to the base, creating a second layer of tax. When a municipality imposes a tax, it is added to the total of state and county gross receipts taxes, resulting in a new local tax rate with three layers. Vendors pay this tax, which is usually invoiced at the time of sale and reported to the state on the CRS-1 Form. All local option taxes are done by ordinances, with some requiring an election.
What is the destination tax in New Mexico?
New Mexico is a destination-based sales tax state, with the gross receipts tax rate being 5. 125% based on the delivery location of goods or services. In the state of New Mexico, the taxation of shipping charges is a standard practice. Taxpayers have the option of passing the tax onto their buyer or remitting it themselves when filing GRT returns. The filing and payment of New Mexico sales tax is contingent upon the assigned filing frequency and the state’s established due dates.
What is the new tourist tax in Mexico?
On April 1, 2021, a new mandatory tax of $224 Mexican pesos has been imposed on tourists aged 15 and above, aiming to generate revenue for job creation and funding new tourist attractions. The tax will be collected at the airport before departure and can be paid at kiosks or through the official Visitax website. The online payment form is available in both Spanish and English, and can be accessed by visiting visitax. gob.
Mx/sitio/, selecting “Make Your Payment”, entering the departure date and number of travelers, filling out the form with passenger details, confirming the information, entering payment information, and clicking on the button showing the amount due. The QR code received as proof of payment will be saved for the airport. Villa del Palmar Cancun is dedicated to providing the latest travel-related information for travelers.
What is San Bruno City tax?
The combined sales tax rate in San Bruno, California is 9. 88%, comprising the California state tax (6. 25%), the San Mateo County sales tax (1. 00%), and a special tax (2. 63%). It should be noted that the city does not levy a municipal sales tax. The following guide will address the determination of the sales tax rate, common questions, collection, audit, and remittance methods, and provide a solution for compliance throughout the sales tax lifecycle.
How to avoid Mexico tourism tax?
Mexico Departure Tax (TUA) exemptions are available for certain groups, including infants under two, diplomats, deportees, and transit/transfer passengers remaining less than 24 hours in Mexico. However, passengers stopping over in Mexico are not eligible for refunds. Tourism Tax refunds may be available for travel between the U. S. and Mexico, international travel departing Belize, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, or arriving in Colombia. Refund claims must be submitted within 12 months of ticket issuance.
What is Santa Cruz tax?
The city of Santa Cruz, California, has a minimum combined sales tax rate for the years 2024 and subsequent years. This rate includes the state sales tax, the county sales tax, and the city sales tax. The 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. has had a significant impact on state nexus laws and sales tax collection requirements in California. For a detailed examination of the regulations in California, please refer to the state-by-state guide. The current sales tax rate in Santa Cruz is as follows:
What services are taxed in New Mexico?
New Mexico does not charge sales tax on services, but most are subject to gross receipts tax, including professional services like architectural work and consulting services. However, certain services are exempt from gross receipts tax, such as those from livestock handling, dues and registration fees of nonprofit organizations, insurance premiums, interstate telecommunications services, and gas or electric utility charges.
To determine if your business should be subject to state sales tax, consult with a sales tax professional. TaxJar’s guide to sales tax in New Mexico and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue website provide more details. Managing all aspects of sales tax can be challenging, as sales tax laws change constantly. TaxJar helps businesses stay current with sales tax laws, especially as they scale their business across states.
What is the city tax in Santa Fe NM?
Santa Fe, New Mexico, has a steady sales tax rate of 8. 19, which includes state, county, and municipal components. This reflects the state’s commitment to funding public services and infrastructure projects. In 2024, Santa Fe businesses can expect streamlined sales tax regulations, with the range varying depending on zip code and district. Understanding the applicable sales tax rates is beneficial for shopping, running a business, or visiting Santa Fe. The updates aim to simplify compliance for businesses in Santa Fe.
What is San Bruno city tax?
The combined sales tax rate in San Bruno, California is 9. 88%, comprising the California state tax (6. 25%), the San Mateo County sales tax (1. 00%), and a special tax (2. 63%). It should be noted that the city does not levy a municipal sales tax. The following guide will address the determination of the sales tax rate, common questions, collection, audit, and remittance methods, and provide a solution for compliance throughout the sales tax lifecycle.
📹 20 Best Places to Live in New Mexico
As we all know by now, New Mexico offers you everything that you could ever ask for from a touristic standpoint. But what if you …
Having lived in Northern NM for 35 years and frequently traveled through the nearby states of CO, UT and AZ… Thank you, thank you, thank you for this negative review of NM! It should help keep the hordes of “coasters” from moving into New Mexico and ruining the place like they have all our neighboring states! Freeway along the Front Range in CO now looks like the freeways of LA. Same for the freeways in SLC along the Wasatch Range. Tucson and Phoenix? Explosive growth with too many people and crowding now present. I like the quiet and the wide open spaces of NM. Winters are also fairly mild for a western Rocky Mountain state. Summers are not that hot if you living above 5,000 feet elevation (which most do here). Yeah, the SE section is the pits and I don’t much care for ABQ but the rest of the state is nice. For some people the positives (esp. the lack of overcrowding and mild winters) are worth an awful lot.
New Mexico was my favorite place to work wildfire. The summer weather is wonderful. Pretty much zero humidity. No mosquitoes, few flies. Hot days, yes, but your sweat evaporates immediately so you stay comfortable, cool even cold nights perfect for sleeping. Best food anywhere in the US. Natural beauty everywhere. Biggest elk I’ve ever seen. Trout. Turkey. Mountain lions. Silver, turquoise, art, architecture, history. Most importantly, nice, nice, friendly people.
There’s no perfect state, I’ve lived in 7 states throughout my life, but when I moved up to northern NM to Los Alamos in 1975 from Chicago area I fell in love with this state. Friendly people that are laid-back, multi-cultures, beautiful blue skies, mountains, desert areas, lots of open land, nice weather – noting too harsh. I like that this state isn’t over populated and hope it stays that way!!!
Grew up in NM, and came back for a short time in my early 20s, but the lack of decent jobs or even decent paying jobs, was the single worst part of living there. I miss the culture, the people, the weather, the whole feeling of the state, but if you can’t make a living, then it makes it hard to stay.
Native New Mexican here. My ancestors came here from Texas over a 100 years ago to ranch and stayed. I’ve lived in San Diego and LA but glad to be home again because the best part of this state is you can drive for miles and miles without seeing one city after another. It’s wide open spaces everywhere and most of that is open to the public. I don’t worry about people moving here and changing it because that hasn’t happened since NM became a state in 1912. 😂
I have to say, the last time I was in the SW, I couldn’t get over the differences between AZ and NM. In New Mexico I just felt this very relaxed, easygoing vibe, which was directly the opposite of what I got in AZ. Not slagging anybody’s home state, just saying the atmosphere seemed very different somehow. Sort of like Northern Cali vs. SoCal.
I was stationed at Holloman AFB back in the mid seventies. After a year overseas, I returned to Alamogordo and packed up my uhaul and started out for the Univ of Tennessee. Got as far as Artesia and realized that I really liked the area and headed back. I enjoyed the desert and the mountains equally. So, enrolled at New Mexico State in Cruces and completed a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering. Great education that served me well. Live in Montana now, but just spent a month and half in Alamogordo as a snowbird. Pretty easy town, but I can understand why it might not be for everyone. But then, what place is. You can have Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
My wife and I grew up in Albuquerque, but left in 1991 due to the rising crime and not really wanting to raise our children there. We still have a soft spot for the state and are going back this fall to see the Balloon Fiesta again, but am not really sure we would want to live there again. We have lived in the Minneapolis area for the past 26 years, and other than the winters, much prefer the state. But New Mexico will always have a place in our hearts. Despite all its problems, it truly is The Land of Enchantment.
IDK about some of these items. I lived in NM for 10 years. We called it the Land of Disenchantment because you got sucked in by the natural beauty and the low cost of living, but then you were stuck there. I left because there were no decent jobs, no men, no water, and a backwards govt administration that wanted to keep the place backwards. That’s a lot of why NM is the way it is: because the powers that be in Santa Fe don’t want to see it change. I’m surprised there aren’t dinosaurs wandering around on the West Mesa in Albuquerque in fact. I went there to attend New Mexico Tech, the #1 best kept secret in the state. Excellent science and engineering school. You can get a world class education at NMT and graduate without a buttload of debt. But when you do, high tail it outta Dodge.
I moved to Silver City, New Mexico a couple of years ago for retirement and I love it. Great scenery, great food, favorable climate, housing is cheaper and so are taxes compared to Arizona. Crime in my area is low and the people are friendly. Here in southwest NM, we lack many of the problems cited in the article.
2:14 I was born in Las Cruces, NM and just as I was entering elementary school, my parents moved the whole family to rural Pennsylvania. Once my youngest sibling graduated high school, my parents turned right back around and returned to NM. Apparently they liked it but not enough to screw up our education lol. Thanks, mom and dad! 😂
As someone who grew up here. Im 32 years old. Its a retirement state. For old people that get cold easy. Do not move your kids here. There is nothing for kids to do that isnt hours away. The schools are terrible and arent getting better and since theres nothing to do a lot of people turn to drugs or just being casual alcoholics. Move somewhere nicer and youll be happier.
I grew up in Seattle in the 1970s. My family is from New Mexico and Southern Colorado. You DON’T want people to “discover” your state because all it will do is push out the middle class. Seattle in the 1970s was very blue collar, but losing population to the suburbs. After 1990, the tech jobs came, and most of us who lived here got pushed out. Lucky for me that my parents bought their house cheap in 1966 and is now worth $$$$. I sold it and moved to the so called ritzy Eastside of Seattle. I am blessed, but I know many who are not😢
I was traveling there recently. Someone described it as the Mississippi of the west. Poor and undereducated was their implication. I found the natural scenery phenomenal. The fact that much of the state is above 5,000 feet makes it cold in winter and pleasant in summer. Low housing prices were in evidence too. All this combined sets the state up for and influx of people. The crime likely isn’t bad in the smaller towns which is where the retirees will head. I’d go there in a heartbeat but I’m happy with my life as it is and I’m not likely to change at age 70+.
I moved to New Mexico in my 50s, having lived previously in the Midwest, the Deep South, and the Pacific Northwest. Most of the items on your list make sense, except for one: Climate. The climate here is fantastic, especially if you compare it to Arizona. Arizona is far, far hotter and the effect of drought on water is going to be a much bigger problem in Arizona. You talked about critters in NM, but there bugs and snakes here are far less common than in Florida, where people are flocking to. It is true that NM is poor and undereducated, but if that keeps us from being overcrowded like Phoenix or Florida, I’m good with that.
I am native. I love my state for its beauty. I do miss trees that are leafy. The loss of elms is painful. Rockhounds love this state. Artists love it. Cowboys go broke. The balloon fiesta is beyond cool. TOLERANCE is admirable. You can’t beat our food. People are laid back and courteous. religion is well established. OUR CULTURE is happiness. Horizons. Outdoor sports. You dont have to bleach your hair. Beef : It’s what’s for dinner. We love the fiesta, the tribal events. the rodeo. The art shows. CHILIES RED OR GREEN?
I have lived in Albuquerque for 18 months now i have been visiting New Mexico since 2011. I love it here. I bought my place in 2016 as a rental in the Sandia Foothills as an investment property and now call it home. So the survey answers are kind of ignorant in cases. Want to send your kids to those better k-12 schools in those states Briggs mentioned? OK then, expect to pay way more in rent/mortgage/property taxes. NM has a higher minimum wage than the surrounding states as well. I make 6 figures in IT. Yep, those jobs do exist here in Albuquerque at least. Car insurance is cheaper than the last state I lived in, TX. I was a long term visitor there and I can say the state Briggs mentioned about better funded teachers being NJ. Yeah, enjoy those auto insurance rates. NM is a higher elevation than AZ. Some folks are less tolerable to its higher elevation. Crime is a where you live issue. No different than any other state. I can get super high speed internet in Albuquerque as well. Its a big state with many dead zones for sure but most of those dead zones are uninhabitable anyway. Urban/suburban roads are fine in more populated parts of the state. I can make arguments against many of the reasons mentioned as someone that lived in NJ, FL and TX before settling here. It is heaven for a middle aged single person like me.
I have been living in New Mexico since 2017 and I have no idea what you are talking about. The statistics you are using include the Indian reservations. If you are not Native American, issues like no wifi do not apply at all. I have not run into one person here who did not speak English. I do not speak Spanish. The cost of living here is great. 5 bedroom house for $223k. We have free colllege and legal pot, which is financing preschool and childcare. I have the most friends I have ever had. All of them are extremely well educated and interesting. We have every imaginable group of religions. Art is everywhere, even on public trash cans. New Mexico is a beautiful state full of art galleries, hot springs, hiking trails, and balloons. The sunsets are amazing and the people are laid back and friendly. I always trusted your articles, but now I’m beginning to wonder. Who the hell did you talk to?
Happy to add my voice to those thanking you for discouraging people from moving to NM and turning it into another Arizona. I’ve lived in Santa Fe for eleven years and have no air conditioner because the temps on some high desert summer nights can drop into the fifties. Yes, we’re rural, we’re poor, we’re proudly Hispanic and Native American and like not being like every green-front lawn boring suburban state in America. And thanks for not mentioning the food. Oh, man, the southwestern cuisine. I mean — sorry — the food is terrible here. Just terrible!
Great content as always. I plan to move from Alabama to New Mexico once my elderly father passes on. I love it, it suits me perfectly since I don’t really have to be concerned with most of the negatives you mention. I can understand why many people won’t consider it, but for me, it’s ideal. Of course, the crime rate is concerning, but like most places I think it depends on what area you live in. Plus, I tend to keep to myself. For me, personally, the good far outweighs the bad.
Have you been to New Mexico? It is beautiful state especially the northern sections. Amazing mountains and some first class snow skiing in Taos area. Three ski resorts withing 30 miles including Albuquerque. Food and Culture and churches alone are amazing. Santa Fe, Taos, Angel Fire and so many smaller towns with that are lovely. Of course you can find crappy things to say about every state. Summers in Arizona are far more brutal that NM. Most of NM is at an elevation of 5000 or higher. And, or course if you ask young people they will say there’s nothing to do. Kids say that all the time in California, I have property in No NM and my stress level disappears when I visit. I will probably retire in NM. Cost of living is far below California.
I’m from just outside Las Cruces and (probably due to my extreme biases) it’s always felt extricated from the worst that NM has to offer. A lot of what brings NM down is from the more rural areas of the state and parts of Albuquerque mostly. Outside of maybe a lack of real well-paying jobs and mediocre education, I really haven’t experienced most of the things that my state fails at where in from. I’ve always loved it here personally. Even reading a lot of these comments, it seems to me like a lot of people forget the entire southern part of the state because it’s a bit different than the rest.
Born and raised in NM. I’m almost 50. We have a poor education system, high crime rate, low wages and no higher job opportunities. Our politicians have a perpetual victimhood mentality. Yes it’s beautiful here, great weather too, but the people didn’t create that. Food is great but finding people to work in the service industry is very hard. Politics here is one party (left) and with that government handouts is top of the country. Once I retire I’m out.
The reasons you call negative are what I call Positive, and the reason we are in the process of moving there – (we have 40 days to close on our house in Dallas (a truly awful place)_ We’re moving to an area in NM of only 7K pop_ I love the wide-open space and the fact that there’s not someone everywhere you turn whether on foot, in town, or in a car on the road_ Low school funding keeps the property tax low_ We pay over $3K/Yr for house taxes in Dallas_ We’re buying a bigger home in NM for a mere $300/Yr house taxes_ I see all these New Mexican plates pouring into Dallas (along with every other state) and I’m just shaking my head like ‘you got to be kidding me – y’all are giving up a Dream for this Hell ? ‘ GREAT ! More room for me in NM ! Make way for true Patriots of the state of NM_ This Native Texan See’s happiness as Texas in the rearview mirror on the highway to the cold Mountains of northern NM ! Can’t wait to get my NM licence & plates and shed these Texas ones
New Mexico has such potential if it could get its act together on crime. Such a beautiful state with a crippling crime problem and a long history of being taken advantage of as a territory. The best thing the state has going for it is that it’s the last affordable state in the Rocky Mountains, and as more people get priced out of Colorado, Arizona, and Utah it’s bound to get an influx of people desperate for a place where they can afford to buy a house.
Born and raised in NM. Lived other places but it’s called the land of entrapment for a reason…family and culture and, no, you don’t need to speak Spanish to fit in; just be respectful and kind and I’ve heard from many, many people that we are super kind and welcoming and I can attest to that. It really is a reasonable climate and a lot of outdoor opportunities but not so much for traditional entertainment. Crime and early education are the biggest problems here regardless of the area. Like the rest of the country, it’s not THAT cheap to live here anymore so take that into consideration.
Grew up most my life in NM then moved to Los Angeles in my 30s. Moved back to Albuquerque 20 years later and the place has gone downhill compared to how it was when I left in 1991. The big standout is the crime rate. There are a lot of things I don’t like about Los Angeles, but I felt safer there than I do in Albuquerque. In my 20 years in LA I was never the victim of any crime. In the 12 years I’ve been back in ABQ, I’ve had a trailer stolen, multiple vehicle break-ins, and multiple broken windows due to sheer vandalism. And I live in one of the better areas of town. Here in Albuquerque, if you’ve not had your car stolen, you will have at least one family member or close friend who has.
10. People think it is part of Mexico 9. People think it is too ‘New’ and want to wait a while until it works out any kinks 8. People can’t find it on a map 7. People can’t pronounce or spell Albukurke(sp?) and believe they would be embarrassed if they move there 6. That’s where those space aliens landed, isn’t it? 5. The only food is Mexican food and that gives some people indigestion 4. That’s where all that nuclear testing was done. Don’t go if you don’t want to glow. 3. You’re not allowed to live there if you don’t have a security clearance, right? 2. They went to Chicago and tried to get there by driving on Route 66, but it stopped somewhere in Missouri 1. Didn’t want to have to deal with Wiley Coyote’s shenanigans trying to catch the Roadrunner.
I broke down in the middle of the night outside ALB. Was walking to a gas station….a local hispanic or Native American guy wearing a cowboy hat, picked me up, took me to a pay phone so I could call a tow truck and then used the phone to call his boss to tell him he’d be a little late for work. To this day one of the coolest guys I’d ever met…since I would never do it myself. The field mice were EVERYWHERE that night….I’d see them run around my feet when passing cars would light up my path on the freeway. Glad I got a ride.
I was born and raised in NM in the 50s and 60s. It hasn’t changed much since then. About 40% are still on welfare. Thanks to the federal government, there will always be poverty in the one big city and surrounding areas. There are lots of ranches that account for a big portion of the state. I think it’s a beautiful place and the roads are mostly empty, unlike all the states around NM. There’s no need for any more colleges. I lived on the plains, desert. The elevation is 5000 feet in the flattest part of NM. The dry heat beats the humidity, as found in most other states. The climate hasn’t changed in 116 years, when my grandparents homesteaded there. My brother has been getting online for at least 30 years. 😂 There are many beautiful places in NM. It’s also an artist’s paradise!
I’ve lived in NM my whole life. Born in Farmington, grew up in Cruces, have family in Roswell and currently live in Albuquerque. I can honestly say most of these things are true except the Spanish thing. You don’t need to know Spanish at all to live here. I barely know any and I am half Mexican and my mom and her parents all speak Spanish fluently. I would say that the absolute worst problem here that was just touched on at THE VERY END of the article would most definitely be the drug problem. Las Cruces is one of if not the ONLY city in the USA that has no border checkpoints going into it, onlu going out of it. So once cartels or whoever gets their drugs inside the states, usually el paso, tx, then it’s literally a straight shot to Las Cruces and you will literally drive past the other side of the checkpoint as you drive into town. Always wondered why such a huge oversight has gone unchecked for so so lonf
Lived there for 30 years. So glad we finally escaped. I’m not a desert person to begin with but add in zero economic growth/opportunity (few jobs except retail and call centers), poorest education stats in the country, extreme poverty, very high violent crime (drugs, gangs, drive bys), and extreme drought. On the plus side…the food is good if you love red and green chili, there are almost no natural disasters of any kind and the weather is sunny year round. BTW… it doesn’t matter how much they spend per student, they always rank at the bottom in test scores for all grades.
I moved to New Mexico (Las Cruces) in Junior high. Grew up in Montana. Major culture shock. Left Cruces after high school, and a few years at NMSU. Moved to New York City at 19. Another culture shock. Ended up in Minnesota currently. I very much miss NM. Love love the Spanish culture the food😊 and the wide open spaces. I talk about retiring to T or C 😊 I think for all the things that are mentioned in the vid. there is a lot of beauty in that state. Go Aggies!
I just recently moved to Las Vegas from Albuquerque. I lived in NM for 21 years. What’s really bad is the crime that happens in the middle of the day out in the open. The homeless problem is extremely bad in Albuquerque specifically. NM is a deep cesspool of corruption. Some positives the food is amazing lots of outdoor activities and if you want to work in the movie industry there are plenty of opportunities in NM. I drive a truck the roads in AZ are not much better.
Hi, I just moved from NM on June 11th, 2023. I taught high school on the Navajo reservation for 5 years. I agree with 9 of your statements about NM except how expensive car insurance is there. I moved back to my home state of Texas and my car insurance more than doubled. I was paying $74 monthly for car insurance and am now paying $157 per month for car insurance. I enjoyed living there for 5 years but did not want to retire there. It is a gorgeous state but for me the friendliest people are Texans. I have lived in 5 states in my life and I stand by my opinion that Texans are the friendliest! Thanks! Elizabeth Clark Goodrich, Texas
I spent some of my youth in NM and I love the scenic beauty of the state. Recently, I have considered returning there to live, but that notion ended in disappointment. While the cost of living is cheaper, the wages are lower and the tax rates are higher. I would definitely have to accept an unappealing step down in living standards in order to move there. The job market is also much smaller, so, even finding a job can be a challenge. But, I took the effort seriously and I even flew back to NM a few years ago to scope things out on the ground. I was shocked at the state of decay I found Albuquerque to be in. Very little growth and lots of dilapidation. My old neighborhood (which I have fond memories of) is now a rundown shell of what it used to be. I will always love New Mexico but I can also understand why its not attracting people.
Thank you for showing me why new mexico is the invisible state. I think that maybe someone should do a state by state expose on housing. Who has the most speculator owned housing, ways around mortgages like owner carries and HUD stats for each state. Az has had 16,000 tax default auctions making homelessness a damned big deal. Looking to move from Nevada to stay alive as a retired senior. Do a series for helping the poor survive.
A few side notes: 1. Devil’s Highway also extended into Arizona, and had that nickname because originally, it was Route 666. It was renamed Rt. 491, in the year 2003. Historically, it did have a lot of traffic fatalities, but see the next point to find out why. 2. There are a lot of traffic accidents in NM, but the main reason for that is DUIs. Devil’s Highway/Rt 491, in the Four Corners area, goes through Native American Reservation territory, where there is a high percentage of alcoholism. Although, high numbers of DUI related traffic accidents plague the entire state. I moved here from Arizona, 2yrs ago, and my car insurance is less than half what of what it was in AZ. Although, I must say that people here do not pay attention while driving, and appear to think they are the only vehicle on the road. Oh, but if you try to exceed the speed limit even a little, they will catch you, and you will pay an exorbitant fine. Just fyi. 3. The only reason it appears that home prices are lower in averaging calculations, is because of the Reservations and the poverty level at which a lot of people live. Your average family home is just as expensive here as anywhere else, and in the most popular and populated cities, the cost of a home has skyrocketed, just like everywhere else. Another factor increasing home price is that a lot of Californians either move here as their primary residence or purchase second homes here. 4. The cost of living here for daily expenses, in certain areas, is just as high or higher than the rest of the country.
My cousin, who was retired, moved from Florida to Alamogordo two and a half years ago. He wanted to be near one of his sons and grandchildren. He hated it there. The son works all the time and the kids, who are very young, didn’t seem to like him. The weather was mostly was had with some cold snaps in winter. He wanted to move back to FL abut couldn’t afford it. He passed away after suffering from long Covid instead.
New Mexico was dependent on Federal government projects, contractors, and facilities for DECADES and made no efforts to attract other industries. When those facilities cutback or shutdown, there were very few options except to follow the jobs to where they moved or leave to find employment. The fact that the Federal government owns 34.7% of the state doesn’t help either. The native American reservations are only 10.5% of the land in the state. Being the site of nuclear tests doesn’t add any attraction.
NM is simply a poorly run state. My car insurance is ridiculous. However, having lived in ABQ for three years there’s no other state as beautiful as this, and I’ve lived in many states. As an educator here, there’s a disturbing disparity between really high achievers sharing classrooms with poor achieving students. Nevertheless, there is hope, it just depends on who the voters choose as the peeps they elect into office. There is where NM has some glimmer of light, hopefully.
I remember reading an article about principals in NY vs. NM. The principal in our ritzy Middle school in NY made over $250,000 along with secretaries without degrees who all made over $100,000. A year 3 (tenure year 1) teacher with a masters degree made over $100,000. In NM the Principal made $90,000 after 10 years. In NM a year three tenured teacher makes less than $30,000. It really is appalling how little these teachers get paid. A teacher with a PHD in some instances makes less than the shift janitor. Very unfortunate.
Hey! I’d move and live in New Mexico in a heartbeat. Farmington, Taos, up near the border of Colorado are all nice places. But you need to understand and love the rural lifestyle. Plus, I’m retired and frugal. I’d be happy living in a yurt if I could live there. Also, I have family up in the Navajo Rez. Just saying. And also have friends in Los Cruces, Hatch and Demming. Plus, I’m okay with have to drive an hour or two, for major shopping. And with starlink, I can order online. 😆
The northern third to half of NM is 5,000 ft elevation. This makes excellent summer weather: Dry heat (so 94, even 98 is OK), and cools off fast at night. On a summer night in northern NM (ABQ, Santa Fe, Gallup, rural areas…) you’ll need long pants and /or a longer shirt. Way, way better Summer weather than the sticky hot humidity of the East Coast or Midwest. Winter, with high elev and dry air: It cools off fast. Can get down to zero. In rural areas: high dry air = some of the most astounding night skies anywhere.
Speaking of the high crime rate, I remember when I lived there in the early to mid 2000’s, hearing that the city asked the show “COPS” to quit filming in and around Albuquerque because it was hurting the tourism they counted on a few times per year!! They even had the local news stop showing violent content during the International Balloon Fiesta at the beginning of October every year because they didn’t want to scare the tourists away. At one point, I wouldn’t even watch the local news anymore because it was too awful and depressing!!! It’s such a shame too because the culture and atmosphere is so beautiful there!!!!! It’s rich in art, food, and cultural events year-round if you’re into Southwest Native American and Hispanic cultural arts and food!!! And the sky is so spectacular as the sun rises and sets during the rainy season between late July through October, it will quite literally take your breath away!!!
I gotta think part of it is its remoteness. Arizona has Southern California right next door, and I believe it had more military and production presence in WW2. A lot of veterans moved to AZ after the war, and during the 1950s polio epidemic a lot of survivors moved there for the warm dry air. New Mexico is miles from anywhere, and never had a sufficient population to become a draw.
NM educator here. I get paid VERY well. Our education will never change until parents are held accountable for sending their kids to school and making their children’s education a priority. We have excellent educators in NM because of our high pay compared to the rest of the US. Roads aren’t the main reason we have such high car (and home) insurance. It’s because we are paying for OTHER uninsured people. We have high crime because of the bail reform and no one is held accountable. We are on our way out of this state.
MY FAMILY Lived in New Mexico for over 400 years. My parents were born in Albuquerque. They got marred and moved to Santa Monica CA in the early 60’s. Where I was born. My parents would takes us to Albuquerque every summer when we were kids to see family. I visited again in 2022 in April with my wife. She said “It’s a nice place to visit. But she would never want to live there”. I remember my parents telling me that they left NM because they wanted a better life for her kids. I know exactly what she is is talking about. After seeing so many family members that were my age or younger get into drugs, go to prison or were killed. The weather sucks there too. Not to mention the entire city shuts down at 9pm. I’d rather live in Santa Monica.
Briggs omitted the obvious. He briefly mentioned lack of opportunities but that’s the main problem. South Carolina and other states have the same problem. You don’t hear people complaining about Sante Fe, NM. That’s because lots of wealthy people and celebrities reside in Sante Fe, NM. At the end of the day, your income determines your quality of life, regardless of where you live. If you’re a millionaire, you can be happy pretty much anywhere. The ability to speak Spanish was actually a great point Briggs made. It’s almost essential in the Southwest and the West Coast these days.
Really apart from Albuquerque, it isn’t as dangerous as people say. There is crime everywhere in America. Places like Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Silver City, Tucumcari, Los Alamos and Alamogordo are pretty safe places. You don’t go into bad areas but that is like in every city. In Albuquerque you do have to be on guard and like you don’t want to have a U-Haul and leave it in a hotel parking lot because more than likely it won’t be there when you get up, that kind of thing. But New Mexico has some great people. There are a few rotten ones who usually are involved in addictions and they are the cause of most of the crimes. The Native Americans are a great wonderful people. I have many friends of Native Americans. Most are kind and have good hearts. The Latino population also are great in New Mexico. They are friendly and warmhearted. The food is amazing and you’ll end up eating green or red chile on about everything from your eggs to your hamburgers. Blake’s Lotaburger throughout New Mexico has some of the best hamburgers in the world and add the Hatch green chile on it, oh man is it good! The main thing is if you move there, have a humble heart and not be rude or think you are better than everyone. They don’t take kindly to stuck up rude people. Be friendly and you’ll be fine.
You defeat your own point that New Mexico doesn’t spend enough per student by stating they spend MORE than Arizona, but their scores are poor. Why would you assume a position as illogical and creatively void that spending MORE per student in any way reflects on better grades and schooling? Especially when you yourself round out the point that it doesn’t but fail to recognize it? How is it so many are this ignorant of reality?
Against all odds, I moved to New Mexico for a decent job in 2017 and still have that job. I was originally in Santa Fe, but wound up not liking it and didn’t feel like paying the Santa Fe tax, so I moved to Albuquerque, where I find it to be much better. I pay $1k/month for a 2 bedroom house, with a 2 car garage, and tons of privacy in a chill neighborhood here in Albuquerque. Good luck finding that in Santa Fe lol… One big complaint that I have is that New Mexico as a whole is very unfriendly to bicyclists. Sure, there are some nice areas to ride scattered around, but getting there on bicycle can be incredibly dangerous depending on where you’re coming from/going. You’d be lucky to be able to commute by bicycle, and if you’re forced to, well, best of luck to you. This applies to both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and really everywhere in the state that I’ve been.
Back in the early 90’s “Santa Fe Style” was a big fad that gave New Mexico a lot of attention and new residents including me. I remember flying into Albuquerque about a decade later and all the Southwestern clothes seemed to have disappeared. New Mexico had their big run 30 or so years ago. Without that kind of national spotlight I doubt New Mexico will ever gain on Arizona population wise again.
Those of us born here and raised here love many things about it, slow paced of living, low costs, culture among other things. We actually do not want outsiders moving in permanently and mucking things up to make it like the states they ran away from. Outsiders also drive up the cost of living and inflate housing and other costs. The area is not meant to sustain a large population, we are a rural state, just look at how AZ struggles to keep its high population supplied with water (larger cities siphoning off of rural areas and its river system). Not all of us speak Spanish and it is not needed, it just weeds out who is not from here, based on accent and dialect, we also don’t need to compare education systems to other states since culture and necessity differs in all areas. We do not need a high average hourly wage if the cost of living is low.
I’ve lived in New Mexico for almost 30 years (basically all of my life). This list is very accurate and unfortunately nothing is changing when it comes to job opportunity, crime just keeps getting worse, and I’m tired of people voting for politicians who are not going to change any of that. I’m hoping to be out of here within the next few months.
Arizona was profligate with building because it thought it had Colorado river water. Their bet was, if they built then the rights would eventually become theirs. They were wrong of course, senior water rights are here to stay. That is why you have super nice developments with mansions trucking in EXPENSIVE water in AZ. AZ is the state in the U.S. with the most need for a technological breakthrough to make their own water. (Probably from air humidity… Closer than you think.)
I lived in Albuquerque from 1986 to 1988. I had a good job, but could not stand the place. Snakes, spiders and scorpions everywhere. You had to look under your vehicle every time you approached it to avoid getting snake bit or stung by a scorpion. The work ethic of most people there was severely lacking. Finding a decent mechanic was almost impossible. It was hot there back then just like now. Nothing new with that. Parks were poorly built and rarely maintained. The roads were awful. Crime terrible. Car thefts were common place. Everything was made poorly. Building codes were not followed or enforced. It was almost like living in a third world country. I got out of there as soon as I could and never went back.
Wow very interesting. We took a family vacation to Alberquerque just a few weeks ago and we absolutely loved it. The landscape is gorgeous and the people were all nice. I guess if you’re claiming boredom in the land of enchantment you might want to look around a little closer. There are plenty of things to do although most of them aren’t flashy and exciting like Vegas or Florida. Had no idea the crime rate is so high. It’s probably because of the meth empire that was recently built around some character who goes by the name “Heisenberg.”
Was in a cigar bar in Albuquerque years ago talking with an inebriated police chief and his also inebriated wife, he was telling me all about the massive crime issues in the area. His phone rings, his daughter called to tell him someone was breaking into their house- kicking the front door in. His response- shoot the guy then call the cops. He was too drunk to drive over. I scratched Albuquerque off my retirement list……..
I don’t dispute anything you presented in your article. However, I’ve lived in Albuquerque and Phoenix, and I’ll take Albuquerque any day of the week. The real estate prices all over Arizona have gone through the roof. Many working class people can’t afford to live there. Phoenix has become so congested with traffic you might as well live in LA. Yes, there’s drawbacks to living in New Mexico, but if you’re college educated or a skilled trades person you’ll do quite well due to the state’s affordability, with Santa Fe being a possible exception. And most of the state has four mild seasons which beats the triple digit temperatures of the Phoenix and Tucson in the summer. And best of all, people aren’t flocking there in droves!
Yes, please and thank you for bashing NM. I have lived in Grants, Espanola, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Pecos, Las Vegas, La Villita and currently in Silver City. There are repeats on Las Cruces and Espanola. Never had a break in, car stolen or property damage. This spans from 1979 till now. I have lived in 8 different states and 20+ different cities including LA, San Antonio and Denver. I’ll let you guess why I am back in NM.
We’ve been here 16 months and absolutely love it here, We live in a great neighborhood and have met the friendliest people here. I found a great church (Sagebrush) and have not encountered any of things you have mentioned. If you ever want to see for yourself you are welcome here. We have a casita. I enjoy your articles, keep up the good work but maybe it’s time for a roadtrip…..just kidding I will pick you up at the Sunport Airport. The worst thing about living here is we are in Mountain Time, the games start an hour later. Second is the spring winds. 300 plus days of sunshine here.
I’ve lived here most of my life so I can’t compare very well with other states. But I do know that you don’t have to speak Spanish to live here but it helps with call centers and medical; don’t worry about it. The weather changes rapidly. There’s a saying here – if you don’t like the weather wait half an hour. The roads bad – probably. I was surprised by the comments that NM was cheap – I don’t think so. Things to do? I think there’s more than most people think. I do agree we need more job opportunities here. Crime? As far back as I can remember there’s always been a lot of crime here. I’m sick of it. Both red and blue have promised that they can reduce it but that never happens. Education? It’s a political football. I don’t know why teachers want to stay here at all. There’s more money coming in from oil and legalized marijuana (thank you, Texans!) revenue so maybe that will bring some improvements.
My mother & step-father retired to Roswell, New Mexico (1997-2006). I visited them on many occasions and enjoyed my visits, but I don’t think I could live there. Too few resources & too hot in the summer. I also enjoyed my trips through Albuquerque on my way to Roswell. I saw Carlsbad Caverns 3x and was blessed to have seen the bats exiting the caverns during 1 of those visits! Amazing experience!!!
Though a Northerner, family associations with NM have caused me to have lived there for short stretches ranging from a few weeks to a few months at a time. I’ve worked there, including on the White Sands Missile Range, and earned an EMT license. There are things that are great about the state, and things that I found hard to take. (For example, I was an experienced printer when living there in 1984. I tried to get a job at a shop for 5 dollars an hour, which was dirt cheap, even then. I was told that I was by far the most experienced candidate, but they told me they would hire me for minimum wage, which was about $3.25 then. I told them that if they wanted experienced help, they had to pay a bit more for it. They basically wanted my background without spending anything for it. I turned around and left. I needed a job but I refused to get out of bed and have to be on the ball for McDonald’s starter wages.)
My father was in the Army and we lived in Las Cruces when I was a kid in 1959. All the stuff you’re saying was the same then. The snakes, tarantulas and scorpions were nightmares. They were building more for the Army base and you would see rattlers hanging from the bulldozers. Luckily we were only there for two years.
I lived in new Mexico for a few years, it’s a beautiful state and I loved it. I left because Idaho started transporting and burying their nuclear waste in new Mexico. Idaho generates the waste then uses beautiful New Mexico as their dumping ground. They don’t want to pollute their state but have no problem polluting someone elses state. I considered this a betrayal by the New Mexico government. Many people in New Mexico don’t even know this is going on.
I watch English photographer websites. It seems strange to see them driving on the left side of the road. In NM we drive on what’s left of the roads. On the other hand, NM has a lot of history and Western culture. Route 66 goes directly through Albuquerque. It’s a big deal in Abq. NM is the capital of red and green chili growing. Also, Abq. has 5 extinct volcanoes. The only scare in the last 100 years was when some college students put old tires in them and set the tires on fire, creating huge black plumes of smoke from the volcanoes. Abq. is a low stress city. Nm is laid back in general. I disagree with the weather. It does get hot in NM, but not as hot as Arizona. The violence is mostly confined to gangs and gang related people, although it does spill over some. Over all, NM has a lot going for it. I like it here and I’d recommend it to others.
I have only lived in the western US, including NM and AZ. I had no choice (being a kid), and lived in NM before AZ. NM was so depressing that it made AZ heat and desert life look like an oasis. I still have family in NM and I make excuses not to go back. I love NM Mexican food, but if you want green chiles, just settle for the jarred stuff. If you enjoy people shopping in their PJ’s, NM might hold something for you.
Did basic training and first duty station in El Paso, so was often in NM. Had a job that required business travel to NM over a 12 year period. True about the roads and outback nature. Very intriguing place and would consider relocating except for the crime. The police departments need to purge themselves of corruption, brutality and incompetence before they can adequately deal with the civilian criminals. In other words, crime and disrespect for the law is fostered by the police forces.
I drove thru New Mexico a few times from Texas going to Colorado. Going thru it was just a barren wasteland, and on my way back, I made sure I had a full tank of gas, water, incase my car randomly overheated, and food, because their ain’t shit to eat on that road. But if you want to talk about a sketchy place to stop, make sure you get gas in Pueblo.
You definitely do not have to learn Spanish to live here or fit in. New Mexico is unique in that we have a history of three main cultures blending and living together. Hispanic, Native American, and Caucasian among others. It can help to be bilingual but it is not a key to fitting in. And the longer you live here the more you will pick up some Spanish and even Navajo or other tribe language.
My wife and I moved from Oregon to NM. We liked it but the wait time to get into a place was several months, even with me working for the New Mexico Public Education Department and making okay money. After 8 months of living in a hotel, we moved to Idaho (where my wife & I met). Honestly, I would move back to NM. It’s rough there but the state really tries to help people. Idaho’s state motto might as well be ‘suck it up buttercup.’ For example, in order for my wife and I to work, we need daycare. Because we make enough to pay our rent, we make to much to get assistance. NM on the other hand helped us immediately. If you’re going to NM, have a plan and a place lined up. Idaho is just hot trash.
The university that you referred to in Arlington Texas is actually the University of Texas at Arlington. The original name of the school was Arlington state college, but sometime after 1968 or so, they became part of the University of Texas system. My dad graduated from there. They have a very good architecture program.
I have lived in NM for over 23 years and Love it. But totally agree with Yours Truly. I also hope that this article will keep people away. However it’s unfortunate that Covid has seen a major increase in people moving into our state to the detriment of ruining our tranquil valley. This new influx of people that have moved here now want to change us to be like where they moved FROM! Also some of the comments in this article are just totally not accurate. Yes we have been in drought like so many other states, but this winter we finally saw a more normal snow pack. (8700 ft elevation) and many of these newbies just couldn’t handle it. Many complaints. Wish we could have more normal winters so the newbies would leave and go back where they moved from.
Fascinating. I always liked NM better than AZ, although I’ve never lived in either one. I have enjoyed the climate, much better than most parts of AZ, unless you live in Flagstaff which some call NM in AZ. There is also something to be said for a state where most are on a similar economic level. It seems to be a good place for retired persons who don’t have to worry about jobs or education. I understand about the crime rate. Someone stole the fog lamps off of my car and the plastic jig from the RV breakaway system in Albequerque. Nothing like that has never happened to me anywhere else. Oh well, you can’t have everything, unless you live in Austin.
That scene at 0:22 is EXACTLY the impression of NM I got, the one and only time I went through the state–it was the northeast part of NM, and it looked like the most depressing place on earth! It was an impression of depression. Having seen that, I’m not surprised about the poverty rate. That area particularly looked “West Virginia poor”. My thought driving through there, is that if I grew up in those surroundings, I might consider suicide.
I’ve been to New Mexico a few times and it is a state with lots of interesting attractions. My favorite thing to do the last time I visited was to tour the City in the Sky pueblo on the Acoma reservation. If I remember correctly, one of the, “homes,” there was built hundreds of years before Europeans ever came to North America. As a state, New Mexico has huge potential, but there doesn’t appear to be much interest in realizing it among the people who live there. When I’ve visited, much of it lacks the positive energy that I’ve seen in more economically vital states I’ve been to. It might help them if they do more to bring down the violent crime rate there. Worrying that you may become involved in, or have to witness a violent crime when you go out every day tends to give people a dim view of their life and the place where they live.
I watched a article about why the 2 states of AZ and NM, which were largely two peas in a pod when they first started out, diverged so dramatically. Arizona had better access to Colorado River water and was able to initially develop more agriculture, which in turn brought more commerce and people. Plus, Phoenix has a much warmer winter climate than ABQ, which drew the snowbirds. I don’t remember the article name.
I’ve had to move to New Mexico twice for work during my career. I got out as quickly as I could in both cases. One of the things you didn’t cover is the horrible cell service. You can go from 4 bars to zero bars in less than a mile. Another thing not mentioned is by-and-large NM is just plain filthy. Most restrooms are poorly maintained and the towns, even the state capitol, are dirty and dingy. Thank God I telecommute now and can live anywhere. I doubt I would ever move back.
You mentioned the roads…. I can only speak about the highway system I used and the roadways I had used as well pulling a 43′ 5th wheel with our Dually Truck. Once we got out of Colorado traveling through the 25, getting off a couple times to chew on something or fill up I was quite pleased on that highway and off roads until I then hit Arizona once again to take the wheel with both hands again. I can’t say much about any others. The number 1 surprised me along with the others to not have included the democratic attitude of the states residence..It’s so blue it’s got a blue haze throughout the states skies
My favorite NM story was that a couple from NM wanted to get married in Washington D.C. The court refused to issue a license without a passport since they were “from another country”. Finally the supervisor came out and argued for awhile that “New Mexico is another country”. At this point everyone in line is laughing at the level of stupidity except the couple who has been in line for 10 minutes arguing with two “High School graduates”. Finally someone else recommends they look it up on their phone.. I’ll bet they were taught more in public schools about how many genders there are than how many states. Let’s throw more money into a pile of s#!t, that will make it smell better.
I’m a Floridian and raised my family here. In the last couple of decades the population has grown at a terrible rate, ruining every aspect of the environment. They’ve come to change us all into their homestate environment. Most people who move here are not wealthy, and are horrified at the cost to live here (which is because of them actually). I think you people looking for a better place should consider New Mexico, Texas, the Carolinas and Arizona. Truly you won’t be happy here. I have no place else to consider as I’ve been a Floridian forever. But it’s dangerous here (hurricanes, crime, traffic); it’s expensive here, insurance is almost impossible to find and horribly expensive if found, with huge payment’s required) homes are incredibly expensive. My first home cost $51000 about what it now costs for a car. My next home was waterfront for $135,000. That house is about a million dollars now. Don’t come as you won’t like the weather, the heat and humidity. You’ll go from one air conditioned place to another. You might as well remain in your old home and not in mine. To make matters worse our Governor is a fascist and our government are his lackeys and clones. You won’t like it hear, I promise. I wouldn’t lie to you.
I agree- but on the flip side there’s a lot of good in the State. The Rich culture and food are a major factor. The many Mountains, lakes, wilderness, wildlife and natural beauty. I’ve come to appreciate this land of enchantment for its beauty and because our landscape and geographical location protects us from catastrophic weather conditions. I love hunting, hiking, and fishing and these kinds of activities are near by no matter where you live
I just finished perusal the article and now that I heard the entire top 10 honestly it all makes perfect sense. New Mexico does seem like it’s the kind of state that would have all of these problems that you mentioned. And I mean like all of these problems in droves. Every state in some way has all these problems even if it’s minor but New Mexico has it majorly on all of them
About a year ago, my partner and I went on a road trip to New Mexico to see his brother. The roads weren’t too terrible, but they were windy with little to know warnings about how windy they were. We came up on a curve the one time he looked down at his phone because his boss was calling, and we nearly went off the road because there was no warning’s. He rarely if ever looks at his phone because well, it’s illegal
My wife and I currently live in Missouri but because of the ban on gender affirming care, we are moving to Q in July. We are excited to get to know a completely different part of the country. We are both avid outdoors people and NM seems like a great place to explore nature. The landscape is very different then Missouri but so far it looks stunning in all the articles and articles we’ve seen.
I lived in New Mexico for over 25 years. Then I moved to Oregon; my family is from here. I went to High School in Los Alamos and we had a GREAT education. Then I attended UNM. Not bad. I have lived in the north and the south (Alamogordo). I moved to OR to help my elderly parents. BTW regards Espanol: the Spanish spoken there is NOT the same as Mexican Spanish. You must realize; the population there are descended from 16th century Conquistodors who married locals and settled into the local valley. Think Hispanic Hillbillies. I loved the Land of Enchantment and do miss it.
Why do people not want to move to New Mexico? I have lived in the state over 50 years so I see it up close and personal. #1 is absolutely horrendous government. We have a governor who is an absolute tyrant and a legislature that will not hold her accountable, putting party politics and personal gain over the good of the state. High taxes and terrible economic policies put NM as the last state economically. We have the highest rate of education, and yet the worst schools. We have huge natural resources but yet the highest poverty rate. NM sheriffs and police don’t enforce the law and in many cases are themselves thugs and punks. There probably 50 good reasons…, but the state keeps re-electing the same crooked pols.