Las Cruces is a bargain:
In addition to having low property taxes, New Mexico taxpayers 65 and older may exempt up to $8,000 (single filer) or $16,000 (married, filing jointly) from any income source if the income is under $28,500 (single filers) or $51,000 (filing jointly). If you're 100 or older, you pay no income tax whatsoever.

Lifestyle perks:
Thanks in part to the facilities of New Mexico State University and the growing retiree population, Las Cruces has plenty of outdoor fitness options, including four golf courses. And the mountains offer great hiking and camping.

Great escapes:
Santa Fe, with its many cultural events and festivals, is a four-hour drive. The gypsum hills of the White Sands National Monument are 40 miles away, while Juarez, the nearest shopping town in Mexico, is just an hour's drive away.

Residents love watching the sun set over the Organ Mountains. "There are oranges, blues, purples, greens, sometimes in the winter there's a dusting of snow, it's always breathtaking," says Tina. "We don't get tired of it."

Art

With over 40 galleries and over 200 artists, the Mesilla Valley is the perfect place for art lovers seeking high quality productions at a reasonable prices.

Heroes of Bataan. The only federally funded memorial dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Bataan Death March during WWII. Located in Veterans Park. Bataan Monument Memorial Merchandise

Located 15 miles north of Las Cruces on either Interstate 25 (exit 19) or Highway 185. Fort hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. six days a week, May 1- September 1, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays. (575) 526-8911.

Ghost Towns - There are several historic towns within an hour or so drive of Las Cruces. 

One of the most popular trade centers between the mid west and the west coast 150 years ago, Mesilla is now a quaint town centered around a plaza filled with shops, boutiques and restaurants. Located south of Las Cruces on Avenida de Mesilla, and only minutes from anywhere in Las Cruces.

Locally grown produce, hand-crafted arts and crafts, jewelry and much more. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 8 a.m. - noon on the Downtown Mall.

Check out any of Las Cruces’ several museums dedicated to preserving the history of the Mesilla Valley, surrounding areas and the state. Collections range from ancient historical artifacts to generations-old family heirlooms.

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum - A tour of the 3,000 year-old agricultural history of New Mexico with hands on displays and live demonstrations. Located 1.5 miles east of Telshor on University Avenue. Museum hours: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays noon - 5 p.m. (575) 522-4100. www.frhm.org 

Overlooking Las Cruces to the east, the Organs provide excellent hiking, mountain biking and camping opportunities.

One of the world’s largest producers of pecans offering weekly tours of their candy and pecan processing plants. The farm is located seven miles south of Las Cruces on Highway 28. (575) 526-8974. www.stahmanns.com

Over 275 square-miles of naturally produced gypsum, creating one of the most unique sites in the world. Located 45 miles east of Las Cruces on Highway 70. (575) 479-6124. www.nps.gov/whsa

New Mexico started producing wines in 1629, making the state’s wine industry the oldest in the country. Today, several New Mexico wineries produce a wide variety of fine wines, and each year Las Cruces hosts the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival, La Vina Jazz and Blues Thing and the New Mexico Wine Harvest.