New Mexico is a very strange beast. It wants to be progressive and green, but is basically an oil state. There is a widespread poverty mindset of low expectations which prevents change because people are used to the way things are and don't want change. Crime is high, education is bad, health care is bad. Stupid drivers. Lots of corruption.

But you can have a pretty nice, affordable living in places like Taos, Santa Fe, Los Alamos and parts of Las Cruces and Albuquerque.