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Taos, New Mexico

What It Is Like to Retire in Taos

An artsy and entertaining town, Taos is a historical town in northern New Mexico and not too far from Santa Fe. Pueblo Indians lived here 500 years ago, followed by the Spanish in the 1500s and white settlers in the late 1800s. Taos has been home to a long line of famous artists and writers, from Georgia O'Keeffe to Thornton Wilder. It has held onto its liberal roots after being a hippie hangout spot in the 60s and 70s.
Photo of Taos Town Hall courtesy of Wikipedia and AllenS (public domain); Photo of View north from Taos Plaza toward Taos Mountain courtesy of Wikipedia and NASA World Wind (public domain).

Where to Retire in Taos and Home Prices

There is a co-housing retirement community in Taos and another that offers independent and assisted living, (see Active Communities link at left). The median home value in Taos was $337,935 in mid-2021, according to Zillow. There are a number of vacation homes that some people retire to.

What Is Special about Taos

The mountains and the skiing and hiking are spectacular - and so is the art scene. The combination of altitude and latitude make for a delightful climate - never too hot or too cold.

What Is Not Special about Taos

Real estate is expensive and the humidity is extremely low.

Who Will Like Retirement in Taos

Outdoorsy and arts people will like Taos. The population is about 50% Anglo and 50% Hispanic.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Tourism.

Climate and Physical Environment

Taos is in northern New Mexico, north of Santa Fe. The average January temp is in the mid-20's and the average July temp is in the high 60's. The air is very dry which could be a problem for people with very dry skin.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Taos has a branch of the University of New Mexico; Taos Plaza is the centerpiece of the downtown historic district; there are three Art Museums in Taos: Harwood Museum of Art, Taos Art Museum and Millicent Rogers Museum provide art from the pueblo Native Americans, Taos Society of Artists and modern and contemporary artists of the Taos art colony; there are more than eighty art galleries in Taos. there are several local venues for the performing arts in Taos; the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) draws nationally renowned and local performers at the Taos Community Auditorium.