A popular place for people to work and live is the state of New Mexico, which is situated in the Southwest’s desert region.
Although there are numerous advantages to living in New Mexico, there are also some bad things about living in New Mexico.
Continue reading to find out more about the drawbacks of this quickly developing state and to determine whether it is the best option for your particular tastes or needs.
List of Bad Things About Living In New Mexico
There are numerous benefits to living in New Mexico, but there are also numerous drawbacks or disadvantages to take into account.
Schools That Perform Poorly
Unfortunately, New Mexico has a track record of having subpar schools. Since it might be difficult to find a top-notch education, this fact has long been an issue.
Anyone thinking about relocating here needs to do their study to select the greatest neighborhood for their kids.
Examining the local private schools would be a smart move because they frequently have superior overall test results.
Severe Summer Weather
New Mexico has one of the country’s warmest summers and is among the hottest states.In the summer, temperatures can easily rise well above 100° East during the day.
For those who are sensitive to heat, these severe temperatures, which will continue into the fall, might be difficult.
Anyone thinking about relocating here needs to be ready for the intense heat and take measures to keep themselves and their family members hydrated and shielded from the sun during the day.
Calls for a Vehicle
The majority of New Mexico is dispersed over a wide area. People moving to this state require a vehicle to get from one place to another.
Public transportation might exist in some cities, although it might only be available in certain sections.
Areas with a High Crime Rate
The state of New Mexico has a high crime rate, which is particularly evident in urban areas, as a result of generational poverty, drug usage, and a weak labor market.
Those who are thinking about relocating to the state may be put off by this problem. Before you go, research the historical crime statistics in any regions you’re thinking of establishing in or moving to.
Drug Use Issues
As was already mentioned, New Mexico has a serious generational drug problem. People who have experienced poverty or whose families have a history of drug use are prone to experience comparable circumstances.
Before relocating here, it is something to grasp and learn about.
The best course of action for anyone thinking about relocating to New Mexico is to stay away from neighborhoods where violence or the prevalence of drug use is more prevalent.
High Poverty Rate
New Mexico has historically had a high level of poverty, which is still a problem.
People who recently relocated here should be informed that some neighborhoods with high poverty rates will also probably have drug problems and high crime rates.
Research is necessary to identify specific issue areas so that they can be avoided if at all possible. It is also suggested to become familiar with places with high poverty rates, like Gallup, New Mexico, and to stay in locations that have historically had lower crime rates than the nearby urban areas.
Poor Job Market
Despite the recent expansion, New Mexico’s job market is still generally underwhelming.
To avoid being unable to find work after moving to New Mexico, make sure you have some job possibilities set up or have a position in place.
Finding stable employment or a position that allows you to work from home is one method to deal with professional challenges.
A smart strategy to make sure those coming to New Mexico are not significantly hurt by the dismal employment market is to secure a remote position before moving there.
Inadequate infrastructure
Unfortunately, New Mexico’s infrastructure and highways have serious issues.
Many places are challenging to navigate and don’t work properly.
It is crucial to understand that anyone who lives in the area should keep their car in good working order and be mindful of the constantly shifting road conditions.
Bad Road
In rural sections of New Mexico, the roads are very terrible.
Nearly 25% of rural roads have conditions that make them more likely to cause accidents.
Even a road in New Mexico known as “The Devil’s Highway” or “Most Dangerous Road in the United States”
The state also has several mountainous roads and bridges in terrible condition.
The mountainous terrain in the northern section of the state is the most hazardous for driving.
Low Literacy Rate
The United States state with the lowest literacy rate is New Mexico. Adults in the Land of Enchantment as a whole have a low literacy rate of 29.1%.
In addition, 25% of the adult population in seven out of the state’s nine counties is illiterate.
Most of them are Hispanic and don’t speak any English at all or very little.
Because it is linked to other social welfare issues, such as poverty, drug abuse, unemployment, etc., low literacy is a severe problem.
Necessity to Know Spanish
Knowing only English is insufficient if you want to live comfortably in New Mexico.
Knowing and being able to speak Spanish is crucial because about one million people, or 48% of the state’s population, are Spanish speakers.
Far From Everything
The state of New Mexico is rather remote. The big cities in other states are relatively far apart.
Even though Albuquerque and Santa Fe are regarded as major cities, access to other major cities like New York or Washington, DC is difficult.
For instance, Albuquerque, New Mexico, has an airport of its own, the Albuquerque International Sunport, but it does not currently provide any international flights.
Additionally, it would take you almost 10 hours to drive from Albuquerque to the major cities in Texas and it will take you seven hours to get to Denver.
Low Graduation Rate
The United States’ lowest high school graduation rate is found in the state of New Mexico.
Only 59% of Native American and Alaskan Native students graduate, which is the lowest rate.
Low graduation rates contribute to rising rates of poverty, unemployment, and crime, which in turn causes more serious socio-economic issues.
Strong Wind
The desert biome encompasses much of the state of New Mexico.
As a result, if you choose to relocate to this state, you should be ready to deal with wind and a lot of dust in and around your property.
The wind will be in your face constantly as well.
Polluted Air
New Mexico is notorious for being an energy-producing state, making it a very polluted location.
Nearly a million metric tons of methane are released annually in the Land of Enchantment by gas and oil operations.
Methane is harmful and can lead to major health problems, such as episodes of asthma and other respiratory conditions.
The elderly and children living in rural areas of the state are the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Drunk Driving Problems
Driving when intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol percentage of at least 0.08 percent is known as drunk driving.
Driving while intoxicated is risky for the driver, the passengers, the pedestrians, and other road users.
In the US, New Mexico has the fourth-highest rate of fatal drunk driving accidents.
Statistics show that there are 5.74 fatalities for every 100,000 individuals. The rate of alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico is twice as high as the national average, and alcohol misuse is generally a severe problem there.
Lack of Teachers
Additionally, there is a severe teacher shortage in New Mexico.
In the entire state, Albuquerque Public Schools have the greatest need for instructors.
For a student body of around 80,000, there are 380 teaching positions open and 90 educational assistant positions available.
For grades 7 through 12, the state is especially in need of math, science, and bilingual educators.
Poor Economy
New Mexico continues to be one of the states with the worst economies. The state is pouring billions of dollars into tackling problems like children’s poverty, inadequate healthcare, inadequate education, etc.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, the economy in the Land of Enchantment deteriorated even worse.
Recovery might take years in New Mexico.
Shortage of Nurses
The state of New Mexico suffers from a severe nursing shortage, which has a detrimental effect on the standard of care provided to its residents.
The workload of the current staff is increased due to the nursing shortage, and prescription errors are more likely.
Weird Laws
Additionally, some of the strange laws in New Mexico are well-known.
For instance, it is against the law to carry a lunchbox down Main Street in Las Cruces.
Another strange legislation states that a woman cannot change a flat tire or fill her own gas tank.
If you feel that these regulations are too stringent, you should probably reconsider relocating to New Mexico.
Population Decline
The working class of the state is continually relocating due to concerns about poverty and a weak economy.
The state is already facing long-term issues related to its low population. Every year, about 10,000 residents leave the state.
In comparison to the national average (4.7%), New Mexico saw the lowest rate of population growth in 2017 (1.1%).
Shortage of Police Officers
The lack of police personnel is another issue that makes the state’s crime rate even greater.
For instance, the Santa Fe Police Department now has the most openings in the previous five years.
33 vacancies for police officers are open at the moment, while 19 slots are for civilians.
Because of the better salaries offered in other jurisdictions, the state has had trouble keeping cops.
Tax On Sales
The sales tax in New Mexico is roughly 5%.
Each town, however, is free to impose its own sales tax, which in certain places can go as high as 9%.
In addition, the alcohol tax in the Land of Enchantment is quite expensive.
The United States’ 13th highest beer tax is 41 cents per gallon, which is applied to beer.
Domestic Violence
Another prevalent concern in New Mexico is domestic violence, which is possibly connected to other problems including a high rate of poverty, drug and alcohol misuse, unemployment, a weak economy, etc.
The issue of domestic abuse in the Land of Enchantment is getting worse because there aren’t enough police officers, especially in rural and small towns.
Racial Conflict
It’s both good and bad that New Mexico has such a diverse population.
Hispanic, White, and Native American people make up the three main ethnic groupings in New Mexico.
Everyone gets along, and the majority of people are nice to one another. But there is also some racial animosity between the Native American and white communities.
Dull Life
Unlike Florida, California, or New York, life is very different in New Mexico.
Even in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, two larger cities, life moves at a leisurely pace.
Santa Fe and Albuquerque don’t have a lot of nightlife, and there aren’t many places to hear live music.
New Mexico has a lot of events, yet the state’s towns are typically extremely peaceful, especially at night.
New Mexico is not the state that young people like to live in because of this.
FAQs
Which New Mexico city is home to the biggest population?
With a little more than 56,000 inhabitants, Albuquerque has the most people per square mile of any Mexican city.
Despite being the largest city, others have comparable population densities.
It is suggested to live just outside the city limits and thoroughly investigate employment prospects and housing options before relocating to New Mexico in order to save money and have the finest job opportunities.
What is New Mexico’s typical winter temperature?
In New Mexico, wintertime temperatures often vary from 25 to 55 degrees.
In the winter, there may be times when the temperature fluctuates between 25 and 35 degrees before rising during the following few months.
Even though the winters in New Mexico are not very harsh, ice and snow can fall on occasion.
However, strong winter storms are uncommon, and winter in general is tolerable.
How much does New Mexico cost?
New Mexico has a 5% cheaper cost of living than the rest of the US. While utilities are 10% cheaper than the national average, housing is 8% cheaper.
Groceries are around 3% cheaper than the rest of the country, and apparel is 3% cheaper when it comes to basic necessities like food and clothing.
What is New Mexico’s top issue?
SUD is a factor in many of New Mexico’s problems. New Mexico is in the top five US states for accidental death, suicide, underemployment, child poverty, and crime.
It also has the lowest high school graduation rates and the worst rates of alcohol-related mortality in the US.
Conclusion
Here are a few of the bad things about living in New Mexico that we have explored. Start supporting one another. And the outcome is poor.
They might be the worst aspects of living in New Mexico. I’m not certain. They undoubtedly do not affect the entire population.
However, this article was organized to provide a fair case for you to consider.
