Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Mesilla, New Mexico
Once Home to Outlaws and Revolutionaries, Mesilla is a Charming, Touristy Town with Interesting Architecture, Great Restaurants and Fun Shops
The quaint little town of Mesilla is in southern New Mexico, near the Organ Mountains just outside of Las Cruces, and it has a rich and colorful past, becoming part of the United States after the 1848 war with Mexico. It was once considered the capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona, but in the 1880s, the Santa Fe Railway bypassed Mesilla in favor of Las Cruces. As a result, Las Cruces grew, and Mesilla did not.
So today Mesilla is much as it was when outlaw Billy the Kid, frontiersman Kit Carson and revolutionary Pancho Villa roamed its streets. Original adobe and territorial-style structures with thick wooden doors still stand, and nearly all new buildings adhere to the Southwestern/Old Mexico architectural theme. Thanks to steady tourism, fun galleries, cozy bookstores, excellent Mexican eateries and more line the streets. The historic plaza is the center of the area's Cinco de Mayo, Mariachi Sundays and Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Performances by the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society always attract a full house. Wineries and farms with fresh produce for sale are on the outskirts of town.
The Rio Grande River runs through the Mesilla Valley, and two recreation areas in the Organ Mountains - Aquirre Springs and Dripping Springs - offer a variety of hiking trails.
Population: 1,800 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 47%
Cost of Living: 15% above the national average
Median Home Price: $495,000
Climate: Summer daytime temperatures can reach into the low-100s but are generally in the 90s. Winter temperatures are in 20s, 30s and 40s. On average, the area receives eight inches of rain per year, much of which arrives as summer afternoon thunderstorms. A dusting of snow occasionally falls. The elevation is nearly 4,000 feet above sea level.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Well below the national average
Public Library: No
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 48%
Is New Mexico Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Somewhat
Cons: The population started to drop in 2009 but began to steady in 2020.
Notes: Many residents are direct descendants of the original settlers. Home prices have increased 5% since a year ago.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, although the population loss is something to keep in mind.
New Mexico:
The first Europeans in this area were the Spanish in 1542. The first settlement grew up on the Rio Grande River in 1598, and Saanta Fe was founded as the capital in 1610. The United States won most of New Mexico in the 1848 Mexican War and received the remainder in the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.
During the Civil War, Union troops won New Mexico from the Confederacy. Geronimo surrendered in 1886, and soon after the Apache Wars and most other Native American conflicts ended.
New Mexico has been a leader in energy development and research since 1945. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, as well as Sandia laboratories, were, and are, instrumental in the solar, nuclear, and geothermal areas of energy development.
The state also has rich mineral deposits and has a large supply of potassium salts and uranium. Copper, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, silver, gold, lead, as well as molybdenum bring in substantial revenue. Farm and ranching poducts include sheep, sorghum, pecans, cotton, peanuts and more.
Fun sites to visit include the Carlsbad Caverns, the ruins located at Fort Union, Inscription Rock at El Morro National Monument, White Sands and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
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