Albuquerque-Santa Fe NM Metro 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Nestled amid the beautiful Sandia and Manzano Mountains, Albuquerque active adult communities have all the urban amenities of a large metropolis while remaining close to the serenity of nature. Shopping and fine dining rub elbows here with a dazzling variety of artistic and cultural events.

Albuquerque has a metropolitan population of nearly a million people, nearly a quarter of them aged 55 and over. Active adults will appreciate Albuquerque’s 55+ communities that are located in an area with perfect outdoor weather and with so many active retirement communities in New Mexico, you are certain to find one that is right for you.

Climate & Geography

Sunshine predominates Albuquerque’s climate, up to 300 days a year and days that don’t have sunshine usually only have high wispy clouds. Although Albuquerque does have four distinct seasons, the main difference between them is very light, loose clothing during the hot summers and a slightly heavier sweater or maybe a coat on winter evenings. In the Valley, winter temperatures range between highs close to 50 degrees and lows in the mid 20s. Summer daytime temperatures regularly go over 90 degrees, while evenings drop to the mid 50s.

Most Albuquerque 55+ communities are located in the rain shadow of the surrounding highlands. Rainfall during most months is under an inch. However, the foothills have more precipitation than the Valley, with as much as 17 inches annually. Most winters have only a dusting of light, powdery snow that evaporates before midmorning except in the ski resorts of the Sandia Mountains. In 2006, an extremely rare snowstorm deposited over a foot of snow, most of it in the Sandia foothills.

Because Albuquerque’s average altitude is even higher than Denver’s, the air is thinner than at low elevations, which saps endurance faster than usual. Many active adult communities located in the Valley area of metro Albuquerque near the Rio Grande, have altitudes of 5,000 feet or less. The high altitude and sunny climate also means that the sun is intense in all parts of Albuquerque retirement communities.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

From the moment you enter New Mexico, you will quickly discover that the state has an art vibe all its own. The Albuquerque-Santa Fe region is the heart of New Mexico’s art scene. Many area highway overpasses and retaining walls are decorated with murals and bas-relief sculptures. Music and dance opportunities range from mariachi to ballet, and jazz to belly dancing. There are so many arts, dance, theater, cultural, and musical events and organizations that you could visit or even participate in a different one every day of the year!

Nearly four dozen museums within a 30-mile radius of Albuquerque document New Mexico history from ancient petroglyphs to the Atomic Age. Enjoy fine dining in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town, explore San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, the oldest standing church structure in the United States, or join the Southwest Ghosthunters Association on one of their ghost tours. On the last weekend in April, the Gathering of Nations Powwow attracts 3,000 Native American dancers, singers, and drummers, representing 500 tribes.

The Sandia and Manzano Mountains offer hikes and rock climbs at all levels of ability, as well as powder skiing during the winter. For a more sedate walk interrupted by a little white ball, there are 29 golf courses within the metro Albuquerque area alone.

In most of Albuquerque, a wide variety of shopping and dining is available within a short drive. In the Nob Hill area, shopping and other entertainment options are within easy walking distance. Most other parts of the city are connected with walking trails and bicycle routes, especially in the Manzano and Sandia foothills. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express connects downtown Albuquerque with the airport and Belem to the south and with Santa Fe to the north.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living in a 55+ community near Albuquerque, New Mexico, is below average for the United States as a whole. Part of this has been further supplemented by a moderate state sales tax to which local counties add their own sales tax. Property taxes vary greatly across the Albuquerque-Santa Fe region but are generally lower outside Albuquerque than in the city proper.

Health Care

Retirement community residents in Albuquerque enjoy a high quality of life. There are three main hospitals in the area,  the VA Medical Center, the Lovelace Women’s Hospital, and the University of New Mexico Hospital. Albuquerque also abounds in high-quality clinics to meet every level of health care for New Mexico’s active adult community.