Top Santa Fe Neighborhoods for Black Singles, Families & Young Professionals – New Mexico
Even though Santa Fe is known as a cultural and artistic hub, it has a reputation for having a high crime rate. However, if you’re thinking of moving to Santa Fe as a black family, single, or young black professional, it’s possible to find communities that are safe for both you and your family. Plus, you can find history, culture, and excellent schools.
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3 Best Santa Fe Suburbs for Black Families
Whether you want a more nature-friendly community or one with renowned schools, Santa Fe has what you and your family are looking for.
1. Eldorado
A lot of areas in Santa Fe are on the pricier side. However, in Eldorado, you’ll get bigger houses on bigger lots for comparable prices to properties closer to downtown. You also get a view of the mountains, which isn’t something you’ll find closer to the city center.
Eldorado has both an elementary and middle school that have great reputations, so your children can excel. Like many suburbs, high-school-age children from Eldorado attend schools in the main part of Santa Fe.
Eldorado is also close to walking trails and a nature center, so if you want to take your family outdoors for some New Mexican exploration, you can.
As more of a country community, more of the roads in Eldorado are dirt instead of pavement. There is also a higher likelihood of encountering wildlife within the community itself. As long as you and your children are aware of protective measures against animals like coyotes and snakes, this should not be a major problem.
The community is also home to a pool, pizza place, coffee shop, post office, and a small market.
2. Rancho Viejo
Similar to Eldorado, Rancho Viejo has surrounding nature trails where you can hike or bike. Unlike Eldorado, Rancho Viejo exists in clumps of houses with separation in between, instead of more land between each home.
Rancho Viejo feels more suburban in comparison to the rural atmosphere of Eldorado, so if the latter feels too far removed from Santa Fe, Rancho Viejo will likely be your first choice.
A common draw for Rancho Viejo residents is the more affordable housing and the feeling of security. Rancho Viejo is one of the safer areas in Santa Fe, helped by a neighborhood watch and a strong sense of community between neighbors.
Rancho Viejo has an elementary school and a high school within the community, but middle grades will find their schools in other areas. It is also home to an Indian Art Institute and the community college.
3. White Rock
Catering to families and retirees, White Rock provides a safe environment next to the Rio Grande. With more of a suburban feel, White Rock is less rural and more urban than Eldorado. However, it’s still reasonably close to nature by bordering the Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Santa Fe National Forest.
White Rock also has several top-notch elementary schools within the community for younger black families. Parks, trails, and the nearby library also provide great places to take your kids to get them active and reading young.
2 Best Santa Fe Neighborhoods for Black Singles and Young Professionals
Communities closer to the city center will provide you with a rich cultural experience and opportunities to be close to your work.
1. South Capitol
A pricier area, South Capitol used to cater to emerging artists but is now more inclined towards young professionals. As an older neighborhood, the houses have character and are homes to people of every demographic.
It is easy to walk downtown from this area, as well as the historic Railyard. Santa Fe’s Railyard is full of atmosphere, hosting multiple weekly farmers’ markets, artisan markets, and artist showcases. They also host walking tours and artist receptions and provide a home for numerous restaurants and cafes.
As for easy access to downtown, if you work in the city center, you’ll have an easy time getting to work with less traffic. Other areas in Santa Fe are subject to at least a twenty-minute commute by car. But in South Capitol, you can skip the traffic jam and be in the bustling downtown in no time.
South Capitol itself is quieter, with many good schools in the district, and it tends to be a safer area than many other Santa Fe communities.
2. Guadalupe
Though practically downtown, Guadalupe has a lot of accessible attractions perfect for single black people or young black professionals. Like South Capitol, the city’s famous historic Railyard is close by, meaning you’ll be within walking distance of farmers’ markets, museums, and plenty of good food.
Along with art galleries, restaurants, and yoga studios, the Guadalupe area is home to several cultural establishments like the New Mexico School for the Arts. The New Mexico Museum NM Railrunner Express is also a staple of this community, adding to the historical significance of Santa Fe’s railyard communities.
Bookstores, cafes, and even a cinema round out this area to provide you with the best community spirit possible.
Is Santa Fe Safe?
New Mexico has one of the highest crime rates of the past few years. In 2019, the state was the third-highest for crime, falling behind the District of Columbia and Alaska in places one and two, respectively.
In 2018, Santa Fe had more crime than the state average, except for burglaries and assaults. Santa Fe assaults had approximately the same percentage as overall assaults in New Mexico. In contrast, Santa Fe burglaries were much higher than the state average.
In terms of state peacefulness, New Mexico is a reasonably peaceful state in which to live. A 2012 study showed New Mexico in place as number 34 for the most peaceful states. While not in the top ten, the state proved to be in the middle of the pack, with a more average peacefulness across the country.
So, although Santa Fe has a record of more crime than average, residents seem to find the city a fairly peaceful place to live. As the majority of crime seems to be burglaries, most residents likely don’t witness crimes as they occur, meaning it is unlikely they will be participants in a violent crime act.
What is Santa Fe’s Demographic?
Over the past ten years, Santa Fe’s population has grown by 4.7 percent. In the same period, the overall United States’ population has grown by 6.3 percent. Looking at these two numbers, it is easy to see that more people choose Santa Fe to be their and their family’s new home.
The majority of Santa Fe’s population consists of Caucasian men and women between the ages of 18 and 64, suggesting that the city is mostly singles and young or older families. Only 22.6 percent of Santa Fe residents are 65 years old and above, making the retirement community about one-quarter of the entire city’s population.
Only 1.2 percent of Santa Fe’s population is Black or African American. The largest racial demographic after Caucasians is Hispanic or Latino, who make up 55.2 percent of the entire Sant Fe population. As New Mexico also has a high percentage of Hispanic and Latino residents (nearly half), Santa Fe unsurprisingly shows similar trends.
However, Santa Fe is also shown to have a high rate of owner-occupied housing, suggesting more families. The city also has a substantial percentage of residents 25 and older with high education (41.7 percent), while most residents have a high school diploma or higher (88.9%). This indicates that Santa Fe has potential for young professionals, young families, or single people.
Top Santa Fe Neighborhoods for Black Families, Conclusion
All in all, Santa Fe is a city full of culture and art. Whether you’re a young single, a black professional, or just starting your family, there’s a Santa Fe community for you. The suburbs are more nature-friendly and less expensive, but the inner city has a lot to offer for vibrant living.
