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Retirement Living In Silver City, Grant County - New Mexico


Jump to: Area, Characteristics, Cost, Amenities, Climate, Demographics, Housing, Assistance

Area Description

Our town sits in the sunny southwest corner of New Mexico. We’re equal parts Old West heritage and a distinctive arts and entertainment community, packed with a vibrant “small-town” style of living.

Nestled against the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest, Silver City is a quirky cultural town of just under 10,000 people.

Boasting historical ties with Billy the Kid, the Gila Cliff Dwellings, and Geronimo, as well as having the third largest open pit copper mine in the world, Silver City shines in its artistic, culinary, and historical offerings.

The downtown Historic District in particular is home to more than a dozen restaurants, murals, and some thirty-plus galleries and artist studios.

At 6,000 feet, the summer monsoons enliven the lush landscape and provide an escape from the typical Southwestern heat. The Silver City/Grant County climate is noted for its clear mountain air, low humidity and four gentle seasons.

The bulk of Grant County and most of the towns in the county, including Silver City, fall into a high, arid region that resembles both parts of Arizona’s Chihuahuan Desert and New Mexico’s famously beautiful Ponderosa-clad mountains.

Founded in 1878, the Town of Silver City (county seat) sits atop a site that has been home to Native American, Hispanic and Anglo settlers for hundreds of years, and these vibrant cultures fill an important part of the Town's exciting present day.

Elevations range from 4,000 feet above sea level in the high desert at the southern end of Grant County to mountains reaching over 10,000 feet in the northern portion of the county. This also makes for quite a change in temperatures going from the lower desert to the mountain peaks. The annual average temperature is fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit, with mid-summer days in the eighties. Pleasant, above-freezing temperatures most of the winter provide near-perfect conditions for day and evening activities.

On average, the sun shines more than three hundred days per year, and there are at least one hundred seventy-four growing days. Local farmers and plant enthusiasts enjoy growing vegetables and fruit. There's a wonderful boutique winery and vineyard in the Mimbres Valley of Grant County. If you enjoy getting your fingers dirty, you will enjoy our area.

Annual rainfall totals in the County range from 16? (or less) in the most arid portions of the county to 20? (and sometimes a little more) in the high country.

Grant County is home to Western New Mexico University. This four-year university has called Silver City "home" since 1893. WNMU offers more than 70 fields of study, online Masters' and Bachelors' programs, satellite campuses, and the classic on-campus university experience. WNMU is truly an asset to our community.

You don't have to be a student to appreciate WNMU. The Western New Mexico University Museum hosts the world's largest permanent collection of Mimbres pottery. In addition, WNMU Cultural Affairs organizes a variety of entertaining events throughout the year for locals, visitors, and students alike. The Western Institute for Lifelong Learning also calls WNMU home, providing educational opportunities for ongoing learning outside of the traditional classroom.

Silver City and Grant County have been recognized by arts, retirement, and quality-of-life publications for our unique combination of affordable livability, relaxed atmosphere, wonderful year-round weather and incredible beauty.

Includes Cities/Towns: Arenas Valley, Bayard, Buckhorn, Cliff, Faywood, Fort Bayard, Gila, Glenwood, Hanover, Hurley, Lordsburg, Mimbres, Playas, Santa Clara, Silver City.

Region Characteristics



Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness


    Play in the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest.
Enjoy golf at the University Course at Scott Park, an 18-hole championship course.
Ride in the Tour of the Gila bike race.
Fish in various lakes, rivers and streams.
Go rock climbing with peaks up to 10,900 feet.
Hike the Continental Divide Trail or any of the other miles and miles of trails.
Visit one of the many museums in Grant County.
Take a leap back in time at any of the area's old Ghost Towns and historic Fort Bayard.
This is an Art Community. Enjoy the area's art scene by visiting galleries or attending concerts.
Go horseback riding.
Hunt for gems, pretty rocks, fossils, gold and silver.
Soak in one of the many "hot Springs" in the area... natural and man-made.
Shop, dine out, go bowling, attend a movie, or just sit and watch the night's spectacular view each evening. At 6,000 feet, the skies are beautiful.

Cultural Activities


Our area celebrates the arts in many ways. No matter what your interests, you will find some event that meets your interests.
Chocolate Fantasia (for chocolate lovers)
Silver City Blue Festival (great blues musicians for a weekend festival)
Fiesta Latina
Red Dot Art gallery Tour
Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival
Silver City Wine Festival
Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society Rock Show
Gun Shows
Arts and Crafts Shows
Wild Wild West Pro Rodeo
Grant County Fair and Rodeo
WNMU Theater / Jazz Events
Hurley Pride Festival and Car Show
Independence Day Activities
Silver City Clay Festival
Signal Peak Challenge Bike Race
Men's and Women's Senior Softball Tournament
Copper County Car Show
Monthly Gem and Mineral Society Field Trips
Salsa Tasting Contest
New Mexico Tamale Festival
Dead of the Dead weekend in October
San Vicente Art Fair
During the growing season, there are two local Farmers Markets

Public transportation


Corre Caminos is a county-owned public bus system that runs through-out Silver City, Grant County and even counties to our south. Presently, there is commercial air service from Grant County Airport to the International Airports in Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The current air service provides a total of six flights each day between the two routes. Train service is available at Lordsburg and Deming, New Mexico... under an hour south of Silver City.

Medical Facilities


The Gila Regional Medical Center is known for its broad spectrum of care, its state-of-the-art medical equipment, its hghly qualified staff and its dedication to delivering patient-centered care in a healing environment. Gila Regional Medical Center is a JACHO-accredited, county-owned, nonprofit, 68-bed hospital serving as a regional medical center for four counties in southwest New Mexico. On an annual basis, Gila Regional Medical Center handles about 70,000 outpatient visits, more than 3700 inpatients and delivers more than 500 babies. In 2018, Gila Regional Medical Center was named as one of the Top 100 Rural Hospitals in America with a 4-Star Rating.

The Emergency Room is operated 24 hours and is fully staffed by specially trained emergency medicine physicians and personnel.

The Gila Regional Rehabilitation Center is located in a separate 6,000 square foot facility which includes three heated pools. The Rehab Center offers physical therapy, speech therapy and wound care.

The Gila Regional Cancer Center receives more than 500 patient visits per month. Chemotherapy treatment and radiation therapy is available.


What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico?

Though we have a wonderful temperature climate year-round, there are some months where we do not see much rainfall. During the dry months, forest and grass fires are a possibility. However, the local fire services offer great tips on how to make your property safe from fire danger. The Grant County airport is actually a fire fighting depot for smoke jumpers and forest fire fighting organizations.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  24 F°  39 F°  54 F°
 Feb  27 F°  42 F°  57 F°
 Mar  30 F°  47 F°  63 F°
 Apr  36 F°  53 F°  71 F°
 May  44 F°  62 F°  80 F°
 Jun  52 F°  70 F°  88 F°
 Jul  58 F°  73 F°  88 F°
 Aug  57 F°  71 F°  85 F°
 Sep  51 F°  66 F°  81 F°
 Oct  40 F°  56 F°  72 F°
 Nov  30 F°  46 F°  61 F°
 Dec  24 F°  39 F°  53 F°

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  25  0
 Feb  0  20  0
 Mar  0  18  0
 Apr  0  11  0
 May  3  3  0
 Jun  12  1  0
 Jul  12  0  0
 Aug  7  0  0
 Sep  3  1  0
 Oct  0  7  0
 Nov  0  18  0
 Dec  0  25  0

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  1 "  5  20 %
 Feb  1 "  5  20 %
 Mar  1 "  4  20 %
 Apr  0 "  2  20 %
 May  1 "  3  25 %
 Jun  1 "  4  32 %
 Jul  3 "  11  48 %
 Aug  3 "  12  53 %
 Sep  2 "  6  45 %
 Oct  1 "  5  33 %
 Nov  1 "  3  23 %
 Dec  1 "  5  19 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  2 "  0  1
 Feb  2 "  0  1
 Mar  1 "  0  0
 Apr  0 "  0  0
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  1 "  0  0
 Dec  3 "  0  1


Natural Disaster Areas


Cost of Living for Silver City, Grant County, NM

Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

 Cost of Living

Demographics

Race

Religion

Political Party

Age

Senior Housing Options

Southwest New Mexico offers diversified housing for every lifesatyle. Where you want to live in the city limits, develop a ranch along a river valley, build a hide-away in the mountain forest areas, own/rent a condo or apartment, live in a single-family home or a multi-family facility or enjoy cabin-life... there are many properties to choose from. You can find $80,000, $168,000 or $350,000 properties. Options ranging in style and date of homes to a wide variety of pricing show that we have diversity in housing.

Senior Assistance in Silver City, Grant County, NM

Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico offers the following assistance for seniors:

What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Silver City, Grant County Offer For Retirees?

Part-time, full-time and volunteer opportunities are available for seniors through-out our area. Jobs are available through-out the communities.

The area has more than 30 non-profit organizations ranging from arts and culture to food kitchens. There are always volunteer positions available. Many of the community festivals and events rely heavily on volunteers to make them successful.

Additional Information

Visitor Information


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