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Taos, New Mexico
| Retirees come to Taos, New
Mexico for a variety of reasons. This high-altitude
village in the beautiful, desolate countryside of
northern New Mexico has a very liberal, hippie-ish
ambiance and is home to a thriving, richly textured
artist community, in which painters, sculptors, weavers
and many other artists create their works. Many
famous names, including D.H. Lawrence, Tom Wolfe and Kit
Carson, have made their home here. Today, Taos has
a population of 5,400 people, 42% of which are age 45 or
better. The cost of living is about 5% above the
national average, but the median household income is
below the national average.
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In addition to its artistic vibe, Taos
is known for its adobe architecture, a mixture of pueblo
style and territorial style, with brightly painted doors,
gates and window frames. The median home
price is roughly $245,000.
Outdoor recreation is a prime calling
card of this region. Taos is a rather remote town,
about 45 miles from the next closest metropolis, and it
is this isolated locale that allows for nearly unlimited
hiking, bouldering and fishing within just a few miles
of town. This region is also known for its amazing
light, which creates an almost mystical feeling,
particularly when combined with its Native American
history and culture.
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| Festivals are many, and
artist studios and galleries number near 100, which is
impressive for a town this size. It is even said that
Taos has more artists per capita than does Paris.
Restaurants come in all shapes and sizes, and many are
award-winning. They serve an eclectic mix of menus,
including everything from posada to sushi. The fun
summer long Taos Farmers Market has a good variety of
organic foods.
Holy Cross Hospital is the primary medical
facility. It has 45 beds, but it does not rank
well in numerous patient safety areas, and it is not
accredited by the Joint Commission.
The climate is very pleasing. Taos is situated
at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, and summers are
relatively mild with temperatures in the 70s, 80s and
90s. Winters are chilly and temperatures
often drop below freezing. Humidity year-round is
very, very low, and the sun shines roughly 295 days of
the year.
Unfortunately, Taos has a high crime rate and a very
high poverty rate. A mix of cultures, including Anglo,
Hispanic and Native American, mingle, but not all
socioeconomic groups receive an equal share of the
economic pie. Divisions between the
"haves" and "have nots" are evident.
With its unique architecture, low-key lifestyle,
liberal bent and outdoor recreation, Taos can be hard to
resist. Retirees should, however, take into
account the evident class lines, the high crime rate and
the high poverty rate if considering this New Mexican
village for retirement.
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