New Mexico
Moderate tax burden · COL index 91
Wins 4 categories
South Dakota
Low tax burden · COL index 95
Wins 11 categories
South Dakota has no state income tax. New Mexico's top rate is 5.9%. Property taxes are meaningfully different: South Dakota averages 1.08% annually vs New Mexico's 0.55%. Politically, South Dakota voted Republican in 2024 (R+27.0) while New Mexico went Democratic (D+10.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
4
New Mexico
11
South Dakota
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Is moving to New Mexico a good idea?
Is moving to South Dakota a good idea?
What is considered New Mexico's number one problem?
Warming and related aridification from climate change are exacerbating water shortages. Consequently, many of New Mexico's reservoirs are nearly empty, many of our aquifers are declining, rivers are drying, irrigation ditches are running dry when crops most need water, and our forests spent the summer of 2022 burning.
Why are people moving out of New Mexico?