Albuquerque, NM Reviews


253 Reviews



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What BestPlaces Users Say about Albuquerque

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and is known for its beautiful desert landscape, rich Native American and Hispanic culture, and vibrant arts scene. It has a population of over 560,000 people and is home to many popular tourist attractions, such as the Sandia Peak Tramway and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Albuquerque is a popular city for people looking to relocate, but what do actual residents have to say about living there? According to many user reviews on BestPlaces.net, it seems that opinions are mixed. Overall, many residents appreciate the diverse culture, warm climate, and outdoor activities available in Albuquerque. However, there are also some concerns expressed about crime rates, traffic, and job opportunities.

One user, named Sarah, says, "I've lived in Albuquerque my whole life and I love it. The weather is great and there is always something new to explore. The food is amazing and the people are friendly." This sentiment is echoed by another user named Maria, who states, "I moved to Albuquerque for college and ended up staying. I love the city's blend of cultures and the fact that there's always something to do, whether it's hiking, checking out a new restaurant, or attending a cultural event." These reviews highlight the positive aspects of living in Albuquerque, such as the weather, diverse culture, and abundance of activities.

However, not all reviews are as glowing. One user, Michael, expresses concerns about the city's crime rates, saying, "I moved to Albuquerque for work and I'm not a fan. The crime rates are high and I don't feel safe walking around at night. I also struggle to find job opportunities in my field." Another user, named David, also touches on the issue of crime, stating, "There are some great things about Albuquerque, but the crime rates are concerning. I wouldn't recommend living here to families with young children." These reviews bring up valid points about safety and job opportunities in the city, which may be important factors for those considering a move to Albuquerque.

In summary, user reviews about living in Albuquerque are diverse, with some praising the city's culture and outdoor activities, while others express concerns about crime rates and job opportunities. Ultimately, it is important for individuals to consider their own priorities and conduct thorough research before deciding if Albuquerque is the right place for them to call home.

 based on 253 Reviews
Get to know Albuquerque with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Albuquerque

Deep Love for ABQ - 1/11/2021
After 7 visits in three years I move last January. ABQ is steeped in Native American tradition, has the best hiking trails I've ever seen and is absolutely beautiful. The Governor's handling of the pandemic has been excellent. Read More

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Great place to live - 1/7/2021
I've lived here for 25 years. The city and surrounding areas have much to offer. Hiking trails, fishing, camping, hunting, hot air ballooning, skiing and snowboarding, and off-roading are just some of the outdoor activities available. Several nice casinos are close to the city which also have spas and nice restaurants. If you like Mexican food, you will probably love New Mexican food and our world famous chile. Cost of living is quite reasonable. Two interstate highways intersect near the middle of town and provide easy access to various parts of the metro area. Plenty of apartment complexes and decent neighborhoods. Public schools could be a bit better but they're not horrible. Like anywhere else there is some crime but if you lock your home and car and stay out of rough areas at night you'll be ok. CNM is a good community college, and we have UNM as well which is a well respected college for business, medicine, law, and more. Many employment opportunities (call centers, tech Read More

Objective, honest opinion - 11/19/2020
I have lived in ABQ and other cities in the west, so here's my honest take.
Pro's: Nice weather overall. Lots of sunshine, Summers are hot but not horrid like Phoenix. Spring winds a bit annoying. Overall.... good for golfing and outdoor activities. Jobs aren't real hard to find. Some good employers like the federal government (FAA) and high tech (But see the Cons). UNM is a good school - with a lot of hippies who never left. Good college sports! The Pit is a fun place to watch UNM basketball. Balloon festival; People are pretty friendly for the most part. Blake's Lottaburger!!! The Sandia mountains are neat. All the usual big city theme restaurants and some nice mom and pop places. Great Mexican food. I like the old town. I think multi-culturalism is a bit overrated, but if you like that kind of thing...some nice neighborhoods like anywhere else but some real BAD ones. Lots of churches, but see "Cons"
Cons:
Crime/economics: Boy is there crime! It seems like mostly Read More

ABQ offers so much and many great neighborhoods! - 10/22/2020
I've lived here, moved away from here, and moved back, and couldn't be happier that I did. Am I careful where I choose to live here? Absolutely, as I have been when I've lived elsewhere.

Just like all cities or metro areas with nearly 1 million people, there are good areas and there are bad. Nobody forces you to live in the bad, and the great part about ABQ is that there are affordable housing options in many safe neighborhoods. ABQ is largely comprised of suburban style neighborhoods, most of which have quiet streets and rarely experience what you've described. Is it perfect? No, far from it, but move away from the Central Avenue corridor, and your experience will be different. Problems like homelessness, poverty, education, transportation, immigration, quality employment, and access to healthcare are not unique to Albuquerque. When combined, they breed crime. That's why there are 22 other cities listed as having worse crime than Albuquerque, including Myrtle Beach, St. Read More

Not a bad place to live - 9/17/2020
Lived there 7 yrs. Left 3 yrs ago.
I sure miss the weather which is
real nice. Cost of living not bad,
unless you consider what you
get for what you pay. If you’re
not a G.I. or Government worker
you can forget about quality
priced healthcare. Literally you
will pay a ton! Food options are
good and fair priced.If you’re not
from there, you’ll learn the hard
or easy way that you conform
to their way of life, not the other
way around. It never stopped being
Spain and that’s ok. Learn Spanish
for free there anytime. Seriously
they have a school on 4 th street.
If you like to run and bike it’s your
best place as there are trails everywhere. People generally are
inclusive and kind and hard working.
Now for the cons and yes there are
plenty. Crime is bad no matter what
anyone says.There is a huge theft
problem there that you have to see
to Read More

Albuquerque the - 8/12/2020
I was reporting my entire three year fiasco here in Albuquerque, and the page shut down while I was going through it. This city is a horror story. There is terrible stalking by people, stealing of anything and everything, hypodermic needles all over the city, homeless camps, garbage, hatred, racism, vandalism, passive aggressive abuse of others, slander, gun shots, two months of the fourth of July (constant booms until 3 to 5 a.m.), and sleep completely disrupted. This has got to be the worst city for mental health issues across this nation. Read More

Albuquerque is the best place I've lived in 6 deca - 7/27/2020
Albuquerque crime is hardly worse than other US cities of comparable size these days. It has almost every shopping experience desired and if not there is always online shopping. My car has been broken into 3 times in 10 years which to me is minor. I’d love 0 break- ins but that is not being realistic in this country. Plenty of work and outdoor opportunities with loads of sunshine. I have great neighbors in a great neighborhood. Like many other things in life, it is what you make of it. Read More

You get used to the sounds of gunfire! - 1/30/2020
I only lived in Albuquerque for four months, June to September 2018. While the weather is nice and there are plenty of fun things to do, the crime and government are something to experience. I was there about a week when I heard the first nearby gunshots. I started looking up the weekly crime map on the Albuquerque Police Department web site. And the governor kicking all the National Guard off the border (NM and other states) which overwhelmed the border sheriffs and increased the drugs and crime in Albuquerque. So think before moving to the heart of the People’s Democratic Republic Of New Mexico. I was used to gunfire as I have been once to Iraq and four times to Read More

Albuquerque, NM is a great city - 12/2/2019
Albuquerque, NM is a great city filled with innovative technology, such as a bus with its own dedicated lane on the street.

The crime here is low, and if you’re used to living in any major city, such as Juarez, Tijuana, or Mexico City, you should be fine here.

Albuquerque has thriving industries in qualifying for federal dollars (a major source of job growth) and drug trafficking. There are many jobs available in the latter, and it’s a great place to get ahead in your career, because the justice system does not keep people in prison that effectively or for that long.

If you’re looking for career networking, there are multiple prison gangs that operate in and out of prison, such as SNM.

Albuquerque is a great place to raise a family, because the government provides Medicaid and SNAP to help cover the expenses.

There are many fun indoor activities in Albuquerque, such as staying home and watching Netflix on weekends Read More
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Albuquerque's Crime Problem is REAL - 11/24/2019
I lived in Albuquerque for over 20 years and finally had to move away because of the crime and economic problems. After my car was stolen (from inside my garage, my bike was stolen, and I was mugged for a petty amount of cash in the NE Heights, I called it quits.

People will claim Albuquerque "isn't so bad" when compared to (Insert city here). But the FBI crime statistics say otherwise. The city is home to the nation's highest rate of car theft, top 5 overall property crime, New Mexico is top 10 for violent crime, and as of November 2019, Albuquerque is about to hit its all-time record for homicides. I remember sometime in the past year hearing the city had 113 shootings in 114 days.

All of this is absolutely ridiculous and totally unacceptable for anyone who wants to live a quiet, peaceful life or raise kids there. But the dirty, dark secret is that it has been this way for a LOOOOONNNG time. If I recall correctly, Albuquerque hit its previous murder Read More

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