Welcome to New Mexico

Your life in the Land of Enchantment begins

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Welcome to New Mexico

New Mexico evokes an image of a drier desert climate, when in fact, a large portion of the state is covered by five different national forests. Some of our country’s most spectacular natural formations exist in New Mexico like Carlsbad Caverns and Chaco Canyon, just to name a couple. New Mexico has a long history marked by Spanish colonization and indigenous roots, which is reflected in the local culture and food. That combination attracts visitors from all over the world to the Land of Enchantment, many of whom become so enchanted they decide to move there for good.

New Mexico Self-Storage Facts

While self-storage is not a densely populated state over all, it actually has a high ratio of self-storage space to residents. New Mexico has 6.87 square foot of self-storage space person, compared to the national average of 5.4 square feet per person. Yet, there is even more self-storage construction underway in the state. An ongoing wave of self-storage development is taking place all over the country, and New Mexico has attracted its fair share of self-storage investment from developers looking to capitalize on growing demand for storage.

Below is an overview of the current state of the New Mexico self-storage market:

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in New Mexico:

460

New Mexico is home to about 460 self-storage facilities.

14,174,254

New Mexico self-storage facilities cover 14,174,254 square feet of storage space.

6.87

New Mexico storage facilities offer 6.87 square feet of storage per person, which is more than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.

Reasons to Move to New Mexico

1

Great Weather. You’ve got the best of both worlds. If you hate the cold, Southern New Mexico has mild winters and a generally warmer climate. Northern New Mexico is known for it’s amazing weather, although it gets quite cold in the winter.

2

Skiing. Known as “The Land of Enchantment,” New Mexico is home to some of the best skiing in the country.

3

Hot Springs. Go to the affordable but luxurious outdoor hot spring spa, Ojo Caliente, located less than an hour from Santa Fe, or take a hike in nature and discover the lovely Jemez Hot Springs.

4

Chile Peppers. New Mexico has its own chile, first grown by Pueblo and Hispano communities. You can find delicious mild and spicy dishes using New Mexico chile–also known as Hatch chile–all over the world.

5

World Heritage Sites. New Mexico has more than any other state. Check out the amazing Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

6

Aliens. Do you believe? Roswell, New Mexico is home to the supposed UFO crash of 1947. Check out the International UFO Museum and research center in downtown Roswell. Whether or not you believe in aliens, it’s a fun place to visit. The truth is out there.

7

Camping and hiking. New Mexico’s extremely diverse terrain offers year round camping. In Northern New Mexico, the Carson National Forest and the Santa Fe National Forest has over 1300 miles of trails and 63 campgrounds.

8

White Sands National Monument. With 275 miles of white sand, this park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Go camping, bicycling, and best of all, sledding down the slippery gypsum hills.

9

Affordable housing. The cost of living in most New Mexico cities is below the national average.

10

Hot Air Balloon Festival. A favorite annual festivity! Watch over 500 colorful hot air balloons rise into the air in Albuquerque.

Moving to New Mexico

As of 2019, New Mexico is the 37th most populous state in the country, only a few thousand more than Nebraska. New Mexico is part of the “four corners,” bordering Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, and also shares borders with Oklahoma, Texas, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. New Mexico ranks 45th in population density, meaning there are many vast open spaces. The landscape of New Mexico is diverse with mountain ranges, deserts, and large forests. People from all over the world come to New Mexico to enjoy the culture and the outdoors.

For years, New Mexico’s economy was stagnant but currently growth is steady, ranking 30th in the country. People move to New Mexico for the culture, landscape, diverse job market, and the many ways to access art.

New Mexico Economic Outlook

In 2017, New Mexico’s GDP was $94.2 billion and ranks 37th in the country. New Mexico has more than 6% of the U.S. crude oil reserves, providing a significant amount of job opportunities. As of September 2019, New Mexico has an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, which is a bit higher than the national average as of September 2019, which is 3.5 percent.

Below, you'll find a breakdown of Texas' largest sectors by real value percentage of GDP in 2018:

23%
Government and Government enterprises
16%
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing
11%
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas extraction
11%
Professional and Business Services
8%
Educational services, Health Care, and Social Assistance

The economy of New Mexico is the best it’s been since the recession and the forecast is that it will continue to do well. Incomes are gradually accelerating and there has been a small increase in job opportunities. Tourism is a big part of New Mexico’s economy and there’s no sign of that slowing down. Houses are selling well and the oil and gas industry is also doing well according to recent reports.

Who are New Mexico's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Federal Government
21,766
State of New Mexico
18,359
Walmart
14,022
Sandia National Laboratories
12,206
Presbyterian Healthcare
11,178

Places to live in New Mexico

New Mexico is not a crowded state and has one of the most diverse climates of any state. You can enjoy the desert, mountains, or snow, and if you want to explore even further, New Mexico borders six other states and the nation of Mexico. Whether you want to be in a big city like Albuquerque or visit the small village of Abiquiu, where Georgia O'Keeffe lived the later half of her life, New Mexico has it all.

Albuquerque

Albuquerque is home to 564,764 residents and is the most populous city in New Mexico. Located along Route 66, Interstate 20, and Interstate 40, Albuquerque is a popular stop for anyone on a cross country road trip. Albuquerque gets over six million visitors annually; one million of those go just for the Hot Air Balloon festival.

Cost of living
5% lower than the national average
Median home price
$234,900
Average rent
$898/month
Average apartment size
812 sq. ft.

Las Cruces

The second largest city in New Mexico is Las Cruces, with 102,731 residents. New Mexico University attracts a large student population. Local attractions include the Natural Science Museum and the Dripping Springs Natural Area.

Cost of living
3% lower than the national average
Median home price
205,090
Average rent
$832/month

Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho has a population of 102,322 residents. It borders Albuquerque, making it a popular place to live. Popular nearby attractions include the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Breaking Bad RV tours, and a really popular children’s park, A Park Above.

Cost of living
7% lower than the national average
Median home price
$241,445
Average rent
$945/month
Average apartment size
872 sq. ft.

Santa Fe

Can’t forget about the capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe, where only 85,642 people reside. Famous for its stunning architecture, rich history, amazing food, and proximity to skiing, hiking, and hot springs. There is so much to enjoy in Santa Fe.

Cost of living
1% lower than the national average
Median home price
$499,999
Average rent
$1197/month
Average apartment size
804 sq. ft.

Moving to New Mexico Resources