Las Vegas named as one of the best retirement towns for 2025… but it's not why you think
Retirees looking for a quiet place to settle might want to consider Las Vegas — but not the one you’re thinking of.
Unlike the blingy Nevada-based casino metropolis, Las Vegas, New Mexico, offers a much more quaint retirement experience. With a population under 13,000, this small town is steeped in history and surrounded by hundreds of miles of natural beauty.
It’s home to more than 900 historic buildings, two national parks, golf courses, rivers for fishing, and plenty of bird-watching opportunities.
Typical home prices sit just above $300,000, making it an affordable option for those seeking a slower pace.
The weather is mild year-round, with the mercury rarely dipping below 12°F or rising above 91°F.
An Amtrak station and a nearby airport keep it connected to bigger cities, while local conveniences like Walmart, Love’s Travel Stop, McDonald’s, and Sonic provide everyday comfort.
Just 70 miles east of Santa Fe, Las Vegas, NM, has landed a spot on Travel + Leisure’s top 50 places to retire in 2025.
'The Las Vegas area has become a popular place to retire and relocate in the later years of life, even if you are not completely retired,' a spokesperson for Las Vegas' Chamber of Commerce told DailyMail.com.
Las Vegas, New Mexico, is a quaint town with low housing prices, plenty of natural grounds, and hundreds of historic buildings
Las Vegas, NM, is surrounded by hundreds of miles of nature
'The Las Vegas Area is rural and quiet. This makes it easy to just live life without any stress of city life but not far enough away from civilizations to still make it convenient.'
They also pointed out the city's vibrant arts and culture scene, which features several local musicians and galleries.
Instead of casinos and five-star hotels, locals can also spend time visiting the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge or the nearby Storrie Lake State Park.
It is also a good place for any older Americans with health concerns as there are 33 hospitals in San Miguel County.
But the town is not perfect: the nearby Gallinas River is the main supplier of water for residents.
The plant processing the water has struggled to keep up with residents' water demands since the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fires destroyed thousands of nearby acres in 2022.
Las Vegas has issued several water advisories and ration warnings since the natural disaster.
The city is currently using federal relief aid to distribute water and find longer-term solutions to the availability crisis.
Las Vegas' downtown features a ton of historical charm - and a nearby strip features chain store conveniences
The small town has been dealing with a water crisis since a massive 2022 wild fire raged
The town has an Amtrak station and a small airport that flies single-jet airplanes
Other low-key retirement communities
Multiple towns across the US are bustling with newly minted retirees.
DailyMail.com put together a list of the 21 best retirement towns, taking weather patterns, housing costs, and amenities into account.
Florida, which has consistently drawn millions of new retirees each year, only had two towns that made the list.
The past year has also seen some surprising trends in retiree migration.
Last year, Mesa, Arizona took the top spot as the most popular destination for newly retired movers.
Florida kept its crown as the state attracting the most retirement-age residents, but Maine has the highest percentage of residents over 65.
For millions of Americans, the prospects of retirement have seemed to dwindle as the economy continues to struggle with a cost of living crisis.
