Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Santa Fe lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Santa Fe sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Santa Fe fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Santa Fe's strongest factors are Coffee, Outdoors and Culture. Its heaviest drawbacks are Going-Out Cost, Air Quality and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Santa Fe
The Santa Fe read Free
A written read on Santa Fe, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Santa Fe scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Santa Fe, NM earns a Fun Score of 62, placing it in the "Fun" category nationally, and is particularly notable for its exceptional coffee scene.
Why it scores high
Santa Fe boasts an outstanding Coffee scene, scoring an impressive 90 and tying for the 8th national rank out of 134 cities. This high score suggests a vibrant and high-quality selection of cafes, perfect for those who appreciate a good brew. Beyond its coffee, Santa Fe is a haven for culture enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Its Culture score of 89 places it in a tie for the 11th national rank, indicating a rich array of museums, galleries, and theaters (OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Similarly, the city's Outdoors score of 89, also tied for the 11th national rank, highlights abundant parks, nature reserves, and other natural attractions (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities).
The city also shines in providing Unique Hangouts, with a score of 87 and tying for the 16th national rank. This suggests a diverse and engaging selection of distinctive entertainment options, from escape rooms to karaoke venues (OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). For those who enjoy dining out, Santa Fe's Eats scene is robust, scoring 88 and tying for the 13th national rank (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). The city also offers a good selection of places for Drinks, with a score of 77 and tying for the 31st national rank, suggesting a healthy array of bars, pubs, and craft establishments (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality).
Where it falls short
While strong in many areas, Santa Fe has some notable weaknesses. Its City Vibe score is quite low at 9, ranking 122nd nationally, which might suggest a less dynamic or bustling atmosphere compared to other cities (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)). The city's Climate also scores low at 10, ranking 121st, indicating fewer comfortable days throughout the year (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days). The Live Music scene is not a strong point, with a score of 12 and a national rank of 118, suggesting limited options for live performances (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues). Additionally, Star Power is relatively low at 19, ranking 109th, meaning fewer major headliners or notable residents (SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)).
The cost of going out in Santa Fe is also a concern, with a Going-Out Cost score of 18, tying for the 87th national rank. This indicates that entertainment, dining, and transportation services are relatively expensive compared to other cities (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services). Air Quality is another area for improvement, scoring 30 and ranking 94th nationally, which could impact outdoor activities (EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)).
Who it's for
Santa Fe, NM is ideal for individuals who prioritize a rich cultural experience, abundant outdoor activities, and a thriving coffee and dining scene. It's a great fit for those who appreciate unique local hangouts and are less concerned with a bustling city vibe, frequent live music, or a wide array of major celebrity events.
Cities like it
- Albuquerque, NM: Shares a similar regional feel and cultural influences.
- Colorado Springs, CO: Offers comparable outdoor opportunities and a focus on natural beauty.
- Stowe, VT: Known for its outdoor recreation and charming atmosphere, albeit in a different climate.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap cafes, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap music venues
- OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Santa Fe’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Santa Fe, NM: 63/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/santa-fe-nm
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.