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Los Alamos, New Mexico

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What It Is Like to Retire in Los alamos

Los Alamos is a famous town in north central New Mexico, just north of Albuquerque and not far from Santa Fe. It is notable because it was the home of the WWII Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that helped end the war against Japan. People say it is a great place to live because of its mountainous climate and the educated populace (Los Alamos is New Mexico's best educated community)  that lives here.  The population is just over 12,000; it is the 5th fastest growing city in New Mexico. Photo of A westward aerial view of Los Alamos courtesy of Wikipedia and Los Alamos National Laboratory; Photo of Bandelier Kiva, a monument that preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans courtesy of Wikipedia. Photo of Post Office courtesy of MRobison, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Watch this short Youtube video prepared by TravelGuideNewMexico:

Where to Retire in Los alamos and Home Prices

There are numerous neighborhoods set on the mesas that make up the town. In late 2024, the median home value was $562,00, according to Zillow.  Average taxes are less than $2000 per year.

What Is Special about Los alamos

Livability.com named Los Alamos one of the top 10 Small Towns in America. It is home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which was founded to undertake the Manhattan Project.  There is the Los Alamos Branch of the University of New Mexico. The mountainous terrain offers great outdoor recreation possibilities including the Bandelier National Monument  with its many Pueblo dwelling ruins. Valles Caldera National Preserve is  a brand-new unit of the national park system in the Jemez Mountains.

What Is Not Special about Los alamos

In 2000, a 48,000 acre wildfire, Cerro Grande Fire, tore through the townsite.  Some people might not want to live in the place that gave birth to nuclear weapons.

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Who Will Like Retirement in Los alamos

At 44 the median age is 7 years higher than the state median.  People who want to live in a highly educated community with outstanding outdoor recreation will like to live here.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Los Alamos National Labs, the branch of the University, and the Medical Center are drivers of the economy.

Climate and Physical Environment

Los Alamos is in north central New Mexico, north of Albuquerque and northwest of Santa Fe. The town is divided up across four mesas—Barranca Mesa, North Mesa, Los Alamos Mesa and South Mesa—along with the connecting communities at the base of the mountain.  July temperatures average in the 60s and January's is in the high 20s. The climate is semi-humid continental with plenty of winter snow, which normally melts quickly. There is some rain in summer.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

The Bradbury Science Museum  is a good place to learn about Los Alamos, as is the Los Alamos Historical Society. The Fuller Lodge Art Center is an art gallery with exhibits that change nine times a year.

Crime

Crime is light in Los Alamos.

Medical facilities

The Los Alamos Medical Center provides medical services for the local community. There are more extensive facilities in nearby Albuquerque.

Transportation

Atomic City Transit is free. The city is compact, but biking is difficult because of the many hills and the over 7,000' elevation.  Nearby airport in Albuquerque offers frequent service, alhough there is a small local airport.

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