Santa Fe or Albuquerque?

Our family is relocating to New Mexico and we are having a hard time deciding where to move to. I see so many benefits to living in Albuquerque and yet I am drawn to Santa Fe.

We have heard mixed reviews about both places and the fact that we have children only makes it that much more difficult to make a decision. I have heard that ABQ has great schools and a great health care system and that Santa Fe does not. I would love opinions from those who live in both of these cities to let me know what you think of the school systems and health care system.

I have heard St. Vincent’s Hospital referred to as “St. Victim’s” and that doesn’t evoke much confidence in my mind. But I also don’t want to go on a few small opinions. Those people may have just had a bad experience. I have had bad experiences in very good hospitals before, so I need more opinions I guess. It was also said that in Santa Fe, the school system isn’t so hot either….what does that mean?

I really like the thought of living in Santa Fe because I have heard about all the art and the beautiful mixing of cultures…this appeals to me but it has been reported also that it costs more to live there. I have heard mixed reviews about ABQ too, and I am really not sure what to do. In searching for a place in ABQ, I found that it has been just as expensive there as it is in Santa Fe. It’s not like we can just stay somewhere and explore NM…my kids need to go to school, and I want to make the choice of where we are going to live so we can register them and not have to move again. In ABQ, the Public Academy of Performing Arts is there, and my children really want to attend that school. It is for students 6th-12th grade. It is already going to be a big adjustment moving to a new state that we know little to nothing about, and I want to be as informed as I can to make this transition as smooth as possible.