Santa Fe, New Mexico

The capital of New Mexico is a hub of culture, wellness, and history, set against a backdrop of red canyons and distant mountains. Although New Mexico has a desert climate, Santa Fe’s location at a 7,000-foot elevation means the city experiences all four seasons—all to be enjoyed during its 325 days of sunshine a year. It’s an ideal city for retirees looking to make the most of their golden years. A quarter of the city’s population is age 65 and older.

Santa Fe is a Unesco creative city, and its thriving arts scene makes it easy to see why. Not only does the landscape itself look like a masterpiece with its Pueblo-style architecture and winding roads (Georgia O’Keeffe, after all, found a lot of inspiration here), the city has one of the largest art markets in the country. The Santa Fe Indian Market and Traditional Spanish Market showcase goods made by local artisans, and there are plenty of museums to check out: the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the New Mexico Museum of Art, to name a few. Retirees can also catch a performance at the Santa Fe Opera.

And no matter the season, there’s always something to do outdoors. Nestled at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are hiking opportunities for all athletic levels. The city also operates the Dale Ball Trail system with 25 miles of hiking and biking, and the Bandelier National Monument offers 70 trails through canyons and mesas that ancestral Pueblo nations once inhabited. During the winter, residents can pay a visit to the slopes at Ski Santa Fe.

With several spa resorts nearby, including the Japanese wellness retreat Ten Thousand Waves, there is no shortage of places to relax with a good soak in a mineral pool or a stress-relieving massage. And Santa Fe’s culinary offerings are just as hot as the desert itself, with a number of food festivals, farmers’ markets, and restaurants serving up Southwestern flavors. 

While Santa Fe is a little pricier than other areas of New Mexico, it offers a high-quality lifestyle that’s more affordable than what you’d find in other U.S. cities, especially those on the coasts. Retirees also benefit from low property taxes here.