5 Reasons to Move to Roswell, NM, Right Now

Find out why it's time to consider landing in this beautiful vibrant gem nestled in southeast New Mexico.

By Rebecca Treon on December 12, 2023

Nathan Lambrecht

Roswell, NM, may be infamous for its UFO sightings (even an award for short sci-fi stories uses its name), but there’s much more than meets the eye in this region. It has a rich history based in agriculture, a scenic landscape perfect for athletic pursuits, and a diverse economy with great career opportunities. Here’s a look at why it may be time to consider making a move to Roswell.

1. You’ll Love Roswell’s Rich History

Roswell and Chaves County are steeped in Western history and culture. The area is known for the 1947 UFO incident, where a rancher found unidentified debris on his property, sparking the public’s curiosity and making it a destination for tourists. While this has shaped the economy, Roswell also has an equally rich culture of cowboys, ranching and agriculture. These topics and others can be explored at the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico. 

Nathan Lambrecht

2. This Is an Outdoor Lover’s Paradise

If you move to Roswell, get ready to spend plenty of quality time outdoors. Roswell and Chaves County boast more than 20 parks and recreation facilities, multiple baseball and softball complexes, and miles of trails. There is an aquatic center, disc golf courses, golf courses and numerous playgrounds for kids of all ages, including an all-inclusive playground in the Cielo Grande Recreation Area. Bottomless Lakes State Park, New Mexico’s first state park, features nine small but deep lakes perfect for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding or fishing, plus trails for hiking and campgrounds. 

3. You Can Afford to Live Here

A move to Roswell is a great financial decision. Roswell is relatively affordable compared to other U.S. cities. Property taxes are low, and there is no food tax, which stretches your dollar. And with more money in your pocket, there are plenty of restaurants from casual to fine dining, shopping from independent boutiques to chain stores, and entertainment options, whether that’s catching the latest movie release or attending a fun community-focused festival. 

Nathan Lambrecht

4. Your Dreams Can Soar Here

The region is a great place to pursue your postsecondary education goals. Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell has undergraduate, graduate and online options with majors like biology, communications and electronics engineering technology. In addition, New Mexico Military Institute is a military state-funded middle school, high school and junior college founded in 1891. 

5. Roswell Offers a Great Location (and Plenty of Water!)

It’s easy to get around Roswell. The Roswell Air Center offers direct flights from ROW (Roswell) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). By car, locals like to say Roswell is three hours from everywhere. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are about three hours to the north, and El Paso, Texas, is 3.5 hours to the southwest. The average commute is just 17 minutes, compared to the national average of nearly 27 minutes. While seemingly located in a desert, Roswell actually sits on an abundant water supply. The Roswell Artesian Basin naturally recharges at a rate of at least 240,000 acre-feet per year (78.2 billion gallons).