New Mexico to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 798 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert temperatures vs milder southern climate), food & health (like Green Chile vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Mexico), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Smoked Brisket
- Arkansas housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Arkansas is 3.39% more affordable than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Arkansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Arkansas movers is B2 Moving
New Mexico to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Arkansas
- High desert temperatures
- Limited water resources
- Higher property crime rate
- Scattered urban areas
- Milder southern climate
- Abundant lakes and rivers
- Low overall crime rate
- More connected towns
- Fewer desert views
- Less cultural diversity
- Less indigenous presence
- Less regional food variety
- Beautiful desert landscapes
- Cultural diversity
- Rich Native American history
- Unique Southwestern cuisine
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to high desert temperatures and hello to a milder southern climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited water resources and moving to Arkansas with abundant lakes and rivers
- Swap the higher property crime rate of New Mexico for the low overall crime rate in Arkansas
- Get ready for more connected towns in Arkansas
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful desert landscapes in New Mexico to live with fewer desert views in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural diversity and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to rich Native American history and get used to less indigenous presence in Arkansas
- Swap unique Southwestern cuisine for less regional food variety
New Mexico vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Green Chile Cheeseburger | Fried Pickles |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Black Bean Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from New Mexico to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Green Chile Cheeseburger, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Fried Pickles to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Blue Corn Enchiladas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like El Modelo, Sadie's of New Mexico, and Frontier Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Whole Hog Cafe, and The Pantry Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Arkansas
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open spaces | Lakeside properties, large backyards |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open spaces, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside properties and large backyards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Arkansas is less walkable than New Mexico.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike as Arkansas is less bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Arkansas housing costs are 32% less expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Arkansas is 3.39% more affordable than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Arkansas
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Wildfires, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 54Β°F | 92Β°F / 72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49Β°F / 23Β°F | 51Β°F / 32Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13.9" | 50.6" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23" | 5" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 23% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Arkansas has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Mexico.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in New Mexico, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 6 degrees warmer than in New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas. Arkansas receives 36.7 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Arkansas
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 5.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.78% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83% | 9.47% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Noticeable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Visible | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 7% less than those in New Mexico
- The COLI in Arkansas is 6% lower than what you are used to in New Mexico
- The state income tax in AR is 5.5% compared to 5.9% in NM
- The affluence in Arkansas is moderate compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is moderate in Arkansas compared to noticeable in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in New Mexico and low in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Arkansas
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas | Conservative, especially in rural areas |
Religion | High Catholic presence | Primarily Protestant |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a high Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Arkansas
Comparison | New Mexico | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Double Eagle Elementary (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary (Santa Fe) Hubert Humphrey Elementary (Albuquerque) | Baker Elementary (Little Rock) Vandergriff Elementary (Fayetteville) Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Desert Ridge Middle (Albuquerque) Lincoln Middle (Rio Rancho) Sidney Gutierrez Middle (Roswell) | Lisa Academy North (Sherwood) Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) McNair Middle (Fayetteville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | La Cueva High (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science (Albuquerque) Eldorado High (Albuquerque) | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High (Bentonville) Fayetteville High (Fayetteville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) | Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School (Albuquerque) Rio Grande School (Santa Fe) The Montessori Elementary School (Albuquerque) | The Anthony School (Little Rock) Subiaco Academy (Subiaco) The New School (Fayetteville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools | Bentonville Public Schools Fayetteville Public Schools Rogers Public Schools |
How Much Do New Mexico to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 798 miles from New Mexico to Arkansas will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,655 | 300 ft3 | $5.52 |
1 Bedroom | $2,460 | 450 ft3 | $5.47 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,062 | 750 ft3 | $5.42 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,903 | 1100 ft3 | $5.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,506 | 1600 ft3 | $5.32 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,479 | 1800 ft3 | $5.27 |
Top New Mexico to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.