The area around Los Alamos is quite rugged in spots. If you don't mind the mountain drive and some snow, there are many VERY SMALL towns in the 80 mile radius you refer to. Many just amount to a cluster of homes. Santa Fe is the closest REAL town and is NOT cheap to live in, but that is where most people go to do their shopping. Prices in stores are very typical. Gas there is higher than down here - avg almost $2.00/gal now. Here is about $1.85. There are many Indian reservations in the area, and with the climate fairly mild, many people live in manufactured housing on mountain lots. Some of the manufactured homes I've been in do not look manufactured and are truly gorgeous inside.
While NM has it's problems, smog is almost non existent. We do have gangs, but mainly in isolated areas south of Albuquerque. Bad traffic here is basically none compared to So Cal. I drove the Interstate 2x day in San Diego when I took my son to Nationals for a week and it almost did me in. I HATE traffic. I grew up in small town Iowa and most days, the traffic here is very similar to what it is up there now.
Good Luck! If you can get them to let you come check it out it would be great. I've only been in NM for about 4 years, and I've only been up to the Los Alamos area a handful of times, but I'll do some checking on names of places in the Los Alamos area.
If you can make $50K in NM you are making more than the majority in the state. This is a poor state and people won't hesitate to tell you. We have so many from the Indian Reservations and from Mexico that are living with families on minimum wage, and many from Mexico that are supporting families back in Mexico.
(we are also the only state whose license plate says USA - I was told it is so that people here don't get confused and think it is part of Mexico. LOL!) |