Oregon to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,320 mile interstate move from Oregon to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oregon vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Marionberry Pie vs Green Chile Stew), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Oregon), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Marionberry Pie and Dungeness Crab, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile Stew & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Oregon
- Rent in New Mexico is 22.85% more affordable than in Oregon
- Moving from Oregon to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Oregon to New Mexico movers is Pacific Northwest Moving
Oregon to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oregon to New Mexico
- High cost of living
- Overcast weather
- Dense traffic
- High taxes
- Expensive housing
- Lower cost of living
- More sunny days
- Less congestion
- Lower taxes
- Affordable housing
- Arid environment
- Landlocked state
- Hot, dry climate
- Limited greenery
- Fewer cultural events
- Lush landscapes
- Coastal access
- Four distinct seasons
- Abundant rainforests
- Rich cultural scene
Pros of moving from Oregon to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from overcast weather and moving to New Mexico with more sunny days
- Swap the dense traffic of Oregon for less congestion in New Mexico
- Get ready for lower taxes in New Mexico
Cons of moving from Oregon to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lush landscapes in Oregon to live with the arid environment in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of coastal access and have to settle for the con of a landlocked state
- Time to bid farewell to four distinct seasons and get used to the hot, dry climate in New Mexico
- Swap abundant rainforests for limited greenery
Oregon vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Marionberry Pie | Green Chile Stew |
Most popular meat dish | Dungeness Crab | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks Varies | Navajo Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh | Blue Corn Pancakes |
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 Oregon to New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Marionberry Pie of Oregon for the equally delicious Green Chile Stew of New Mexico. And while the locals in Oregon rave about their flavorful Dungeness Crab and sumptuous Food Trucks Varieties, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Navajo Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Pancakes of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oregon eateries like Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, and Salt & Straw. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Frontier Restaurant, Sadie's of New Mexico, and Andiamo.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oregon. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Mexico, compared to what you are used to in Oregon. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oregon and New Mexico
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green space, Proximity to nature | Views, Cultural heritage |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Oregon is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to Oregon's real estate listings that commonly reference green space and proximity to nature, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like views and cultural heritage.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than Oregon.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Mexico is less bike-friendly than Oregon.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than Oregon.
- New Mexico housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Oregon, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to Oregonβs $497,946.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 39% increase in Oregon.
- Rent in New Mexico is 22.85% more affordable than in Oregon.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oregon and New Mexico
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Earthquakes | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 35Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 22 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Oregon to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 94% more sunshine days than Oregon.
- New Mexico has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Oregon.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Oregon, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 12 degrees warmer than in Oregon.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Oregon.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Oregon.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oregon and New Mexico
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $75,657 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 110.55 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 9.9% | 5.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.0% | 0.72% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 5.125% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Agriculture, Forestry | Energy, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Significant | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 21% less than in Oregon
- The COLI in New Mexico is 13% lower than what you are used to living in Oregon
- The state income tax in NM is 5.9% compared to 9.9% in OR
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to high in Oregon
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to moderate in Oregon
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Oregon and noticeable in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in Oregon vs. New Mexico
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Liberal | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Mix of progressive urban & conservative rural | Diverse, with historical Democratic leaning |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher Catholic presence |
- Oregon tends to lean Liberal in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as having a higher Catholic presence
- Oregon's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as being less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Oregon to New Mexico
Comparison | Oregon | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oregon Oregon State University Portland State University | University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Findley Elementary (Portland) Jacob Wismer Elementary (Portland) Riverdale Grade School (Portland) | Synergy Academy (Los Lunas) Georgia OβKeeffe Elementary (Albuquerque) Desert Willow Family School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Stoller Middle School (Portland) Lake Oswego Junior High (Lake Oswego) Cedar Park Middle School (Beaverton) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science Jefferson Middle School (Albuquerque) The ASK Academy (Rio Rancho) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Lake Oswego Senior High (Lake Oswego) Corvallis High School (Corvallis) South Eugene High School (Eugene) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Academy The ASK Academy (Rio Rancho) |
Top 3 private high schools | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) St. Mary's Academy (Portland) | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) St. Pius X High School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Catlin Gabel School (Portland) Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) Portland Waldorf School (Milwaukie) | Albuquerque Academy Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Oswego School District Riverdale School District Beaverton School District | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do Oregon to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,320 miles from Oregon to New Mexico 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 | $1,951 | 300 ft3 | $6.50 |
1 Bedroom | $2,904 | 450 ft3 | $6.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,802 | 750 ft3 | $6.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,988 | 1100 ft3 | $6.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,084 | 1600 ft3 | $6.30 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,255 | 1800 ft3 | $6.25 |
Top Oregon to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oregon to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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