Santa Rosa sits at the intersection of Interstate 40 – formerly Route 66 – and U.S. Highway 54 in eastern New Mexico. This compact desert community is famous for its limestone “lakes” and as the setting for the infamous train scene in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath.” Low-lying apartment complexes make up the bulk of the rental market here, and the immediate downtown area is imminently walkable.

Santa Rosa famous lakes are actually sinkholes in the limestone bedrock, the most famous of which is Blue Hole, a crystal clear spot that’s popular for diving. There are prominent Mexican restaurants and the requisite chains, but many residents commute to surrounding communities for work and entertainment.