United States / New Mexico / Santa Fe Metro Area / Santa Fe County / Santa Fe / Zip Codes

Review of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Middle Class stay away
Star Rating - 8/25/2015
I'm a young/middle age, single professional who is middle class. The disparity in this town is staggering related to the socio-economic classes. I can't find anyone who is an average working class resident. It's extremely disproportionately aged (those 55 y.o. and older), reserved, socially conservative (although, strangely, everyone here is a registered democrat) and absolutely bland. Nothing open at night except lousy bars. Not a major college which restricts the movement of different ideologies. Really can't think of a worse place for my demographics. Came here for a job and can't wait to leave. These are the 3 classes I observe: low income, Hispanic, redneck type many who rev up their engines as it's some sort of a status symbol to have a vehicle without a muffler so they can act like punks out of hell, then the zoned out hippies and worst of all the ultra-liberal, white democrats who feel they own everything (they actually do). I've never lived in a place where I just want to take some heavy duty pill and end it all. Worst place in the universe. Oddly, I enjoy the arts and creativity which is what originally was so appealing about this area. Now, I feel the type of art here is extremely parochial and boasts gaudy frames holding overpriced ugly, drab, canvases of lifeless scenery. Hey, that's the flavor of Santa Fe. I don't want red or green… Just get me the hell out of here!
Leo | Santa Fe, NM
Reply to this Comment

5 Replies

You sound like you came from a big city with no culture! Nor a desire to learn one. You must be and have a creative mind here and love the history and culture as it is here to stay. This is not your average normal place and that is what makes it unique. Along with the Pueblos, the arts, the outdoors, the musuems. People who have lived here for 25-40 years are here for that reason. Its the new people doing a google search and moving here. Its the high desert we wear boots not 3 inch pumps. Google and travel channels make it out to be something like some swanky city in ca. It is not and we do not care about that .. so much more to offer than attitudes! Santa Fe may have an attitude but those people bring it -not from here. I have seen the influx come and go and the recent influx will come and go. So will the rich mayor who is not getting it. But Santa Fe will always be about the Pueblos and history. So if it does not sound good to you then time to pack up. We here love the history and our Peoples.
Rita | Santa Fe, NM | Report Abuse
Agree 22   Disagree 11
Don't let the doorknob bruise your whiny ass on the way back to Loserville.
kenny | Santa Fe, NM | Report Abuse
Agree 107   Disagree 53
I've never been. Getting ready to visit. Live in Manhattan. So I have no idea if what you say is true but, it probably is. Those with wealth always see things differently because they literally are seeing a different NYC, Paris, San Fran, Santa Fe. They are isolated into their little corner of wealth. I thought your piece was well written and funny as hell. I'm sure its all quite true. The part about the "type of art". Haven't been was I was thinking the same thing. Except for Georgia O'Keefe... I mean ....I live in NYC so of course I see the best art so when I hear Santa Fe boast about all their great art I'm thinking I'll have to see it to believe it. But that say I'm sure there's some excellent work, just not in abundance. Like Art Basel in Miami a lot of expensive trash for people with lots of new money, and no taste. So funny, loved what you wrote just how you expressed your frustration. Funny.
Laurie | New York, NY | Report Abuse
Agree 33   Disagree 16
First: I've lived in Santa Fe since 2005 and work for and with a cross-section of groups. Your incessant yacking about liberals reveals your stilted reasoning. Well, actually, not so much reasoning as specious podium pounding. As other commenters have noted your contentions are faulty-unsupported by actual studies and facts. Then again, you, no doubt, have a good model for repeating falsehoods and trusting that listeners will simply accept your bloated behavior.
Robert | Santa Fe, NM | Report Abuse
Agree 10   Disagree 5
I have been living in Santa Fe for a little over 6 months now and i cannot wait to live here. Im not sure where I will move but the thought of remaining here makes me cringe. When I first moved here, I loved it and was fascinated with the uniqueness and interesting things to do. However, the "allure" soon wore off and I have realized Santa Fe is full of older affluent people who are unfortunately not too kind to those who have less. The economic disparity here is very sad and if you do not have alot of money, I would not suggest living here. Also, if you are into art (and very expensive art at that) you might like it, however, there is hardly anything else to do here, especially if you are under 50 and the music and entertainment scene is sleepy and boring. There is little work opportunities here and as one person mentioned, eating out or going out will break your pockets so if you are single and don't like to stay home every night, this place will suck. The scenery can't be beat and it is gorgeous here however, the lack of amenities, job opportunities, and the abundance of rich snobby people is not worth the cost of living here, which is so high that a trend here is doing a houseshare (even older people here have roommates to cut costs. You have to truly love it here to do that..for me, I am moving elsewhere.
beth | Santa Fe, NM | Report Abuse
Agree 81   Disagree 70
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