Los Lunas, NM 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

Los Lunas is a village located in Valencia County, New Mexico, with recreation centered around the beautiful natural landscape of the desert, and a tight-knit community. Residents can have an active lifestyle exploring the nearby trails, parks, and museums or take advantage of the many recreation activities provided in the village. The low cost of living and year-round sunshine make Los Lunas a great community for 55+ active adults. 

Climate and Geography

Generally, Northern New Mexico’s climate is characterized as an arid or semi-arid desert climate, which experiences hot, dry summers with mild to cool temperatures the rest of the year—however, temperatures can vary greatly from season to season, and especially between the day and night time. Elevation plays the most significant role in the temperature, and Los Lunas sits at 4,856 feet above sea level which causes temperatures to occasionally drop below freezing in the winter months. Throughout the year, the village gets much less rain and snow than the national average, but it does receive about 275 days of sun. 

 Los Lunas is located in the Albuquerque Basin, on the west bank of the Rio Grande and within the southern end of the Albuquerque metro area. The surrounding terrain is mostly desert and plateaus with the Manzano Mountain range lying to the east. The El Cerro de Los Lunas is a volcano on the village's western border. 

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Los Lunas village has great amenities and the community prides itself in the conservation of their parks and recreation spaces. The town hosts many events throughout the year including a farmers market, holiday parades and celebrations, summer recreation programs, a marathon, and a fishing derby. 

Some of the top attractions include Tome Hill Park, Tome Gallery, Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Arts, Camino Real Winery, and Sundancer Alpacas.

Located in Valencia County, Los Lunas lies near national protected areas like the Cibola National Forest, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, and Manzano Wilderness. Residents can find plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation at these parks and nature preserves.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living in Los Lunas is lower than the state and national average. Factors like grocery, health care, housing, and transportation are below the national average, however, utility costs are higher than state and national average. 

The effective income tax rate is 3.45% for single filers and 4.6% for joint filers, however active duty pay for service members is exempt from income tax. Retirement income like Social Security benefits are taxed at the federal level and other retirement income like railroad retirement benefits are exempt.

Health Care

Although there are no hospital in Los Lunas, there are multiple hospitals in Albuquerque that are rated high performing by U.S. News, including Presbyterian Hospital, Lovelace Medical Center, and University of New Mexico Hospitals, which are all within 20 miles and have recognition for their work in several procedures and conditions.