Albuquerque, N.M., has a diverse landscape and culture.
Population: 545,900
% over 50: 31%
Median home price: $139,000
Top state income tax: 4.9%
Cost of living index: 95
There is much to be said for a place where you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon; drink authentic Italian-style espresso at breakfast and eat homemade sopapillas for lunch; see ancient petroglyphs one day and gallery hop in Old Town the next.
With an elevation ranging from 4,900 feet along the Rio Grande near downtown to nearly 7,000 feet heading east toward the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque is as diverse in its landscape as it is in culture. Crime is on the higher side, as is to be expected with a city of half a million, but with the large population come great amenities, from outstanding health care to several universities.
What you don't get, however, are big-city home prices. With a $150,000 budget you can buy an upscale condo or airy three-bedroom pueblo-style home.
See complete data and interactive map for AlbuquerqueNEXT: Marietta, Ga.
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