New Mexico to Oregon Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a 1,326 mile interstate move from New Mexico to Oregon? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Mexico vs Oregon across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high summer heat vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like Green Chile vs Dungeness Crab), real estate & housing (pueblo revival vs craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Green Chile and Carne Adovada, but get your taste buds ready for Dungeness Crab & Grilled Salmon
- Oregon housing costs are 66% more expensive than they are in New Mexico
- Rent in Oregon is 29.61% more expensive than in New Mexico
- Moving from New Mexico to Oregon will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended New Mexico to Oregon movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
New Mexico to Oregon Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Mexico to Oregon
- High summer heat
- Limited water sources
- Sparse green spaces
- Fewer tech jobs
- Rural feel
- Cooler temperatures
- Abundant rivers/lakes
- Lush landscapes
- Expanding tech sector
- Cultural urban centers
- Higher cost of living
- Less diverse culture
- Frequent rain
- Pricier real estate
- More transient population
- Low cost of living
- Rich cultural heritage
- Sunshine year-round
- Affordable housing
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from New Mexico to Oregon
- Say goodbye to high summer heat and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from limited water sources and moving to Oregon with abundant rivers and lakes
- Swap the sparse green spaces of New Mexico for lush landscapes in Oregon
- Get ready for an expanding tech sector in Oregon
Cons of moving from New Mexico to Oregon
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in New Mexico to live with a higher cost of living in Oregon
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural heritage and have to settle with the con of a less diverse culture
- Time to bid farewell to sunshine year-round and get used to frequent rain in Oregon
- Swap affordable housing for pricier real estate
New Mexico vs. Oregon: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Green Chile | Dungeness Crab |
Most popular meat dish | Carne Adovada | Grilled Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Food Carts offering a variety of cuisines |
Most popular vegan food | Blue Corn Enchiladas | Vegan PokΓ© |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | 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 Oregon, you will be trading the iconic Green Chile of New Mexico for the equally delicious Dungeness Crab of Oregon. And while the locals in New Mexico rave about their flavorful Carne Adovada and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Oregon residents know they have tasty Grilled Salmon and Food Carts offering a variety of cuisines 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 Vegan PokΓ© of Oregon. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Mexico eateries like El Modelo Mexican Foods, Frontier Restaurant, and Sadie's of New Mexico. After the boxes are unpacked in Oregon, don't wait too long before making your way to Oregon's acclaimed eateries like Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, and Voodoo Doughnut.
When comparing lifestyles, Oregon shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Mexico. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Oregon, compared to what you are used to in New Mexico. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Oregon.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Mexico and Oregon
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pueblo Revival | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Privacy | Eco-friendly, Proximity to nature |
- The Pueblo Revival architecture that New Mexico is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Oregon.
- Compared to New Mexico's real estate listings that commonly reference views and privacy, Oregon real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendliness and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Oregon is more walkable than New Mexico.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Oregon is more bike-friendly than New Mexico.
- Oregon has more of an urban feel than New Mexico.
- Oregon housing costs are 66% more expensive than they are in New Mexico, with a median home price of $497,946 compared to New Mexicoβs $300,227.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Oregon have increased by 39% compared to a 56% increase in New Mexico.
- Rent in Oregon is 29.61% more expensive than in New Mexico.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Mexico and Oregon
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86Β°F / 64Β°F | 81Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 23Β°F | 47Β°F / 33Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 14 inches | 43 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 inches | 33 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Mexico to Oregon. Oregon gets 45% fewer sunshine days than New Mexico.
- Oregon 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 wildfires and earthquakes in Oregon.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Oregon is 5 degrees colder than New Mexico.
- The average winter lows are 10 degrees warmer than they are in New Mexico.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Oregon. Oregon receives 29 more inches of rain compared to New Mexico.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Mexico and Oregon
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,726 | $75,657 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.45 | 110.55 |
State Income Tax | 1.7 - 5.9% | 4.75 - 9.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.78% | 1.04% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.83% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Tourism, Agriculture | Technology, Forestry, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate to High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Oregon tend to earn about 27% more than those in New Mexico
- The COLI in Oregon will be 15% higher than what you are used to living in New Mexico
- The state income tax in OR is 4.75% to 9.9% compared to 1.7% to 5.9% in NM
- The affluence in Oregon is moderate to high compared to moderate in New Mexico
- The poverty level is moderate in Oregon compared to high in New Mexico
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Mexico and high in Oregon
Political and Religious Climate in New Mexico vs. Oregon
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed urban-rural divide | Urban vs. Rural divide |
Religion | Christian-majority with Catholic influence | Religiously diverse, with a notable non-religious population |
- New Mexico tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Oregon, on the other hand, is often described as lean Democratic
- Oregon's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse with a notable non-religious population
- New Mexico's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian-majority with Catholic influence
Education Guide When Moving from New Mexico to Oregon
Comparison | New Mexico | Oregon |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Tech | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Double Eagle Elementary Albuquerque; Pinon Elementary Santa Fe; Wood Gormley Elementary Santa Fe | Ainsworth Elementary Portland; Findley Elementary Beaverton; Jacob Wismer Elementary Beaverton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Desert Ridge Middle Albuquerque; Sidney Gutierrez Middle Roswell | Stoller Middle Beaverton; Lake Oswego Junior High Lake Oswego; Cedar Park Middle Beaverton |
Top 3 High Schools | La Cueva High Albuquerque; Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Farmington High Farmington | Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering Beaverton; Lake Oswego High Lake Oswego; Corvallis High Corvallis |
Top 3 private high schools | Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque; Sandia Preparatory School Albuquerque; Santa Fe Preparatory School Santa Fe | Oregon Episcopal School Portland; Catlin Gabel School Portland; St. Mary's Academy Portland |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Bosque School Albuquerque; The Menaul School Albuquerque; The ASK Academy Rio Rancho | Oregon Episcopal School Portland; Catlin Gabel School Portland; Delphian School Sheridan |
Top 3 School Districts | Los Alamos Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools Farmington Municipal Schools | Lake Oswego School District Corvallis School District Beaverton School District |
How Much Do New Mexico to Oregon Movers Cost?
Moving 1,326 miles from New Mexico to Oregon will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: JP Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,954 | 300 ft3 | $6.51 |
1 Bedroom | $2,909 | 450 ft3 | $6.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,811 | 750 ft3 | $6.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,001 | 1100 ft3 | $6.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,103 | 1600 ft3 | $6.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,275 | 1800 ft3 | $6.26 |
Top New Mexico to Oregon Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Mexico to Oregon movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pacific Northwest Moving
Best moving company overall for New Mexico to Oregon