And Tucson is different?
I've lived in ABQ, and PHX, and Las Vegas. I also traveled to Tucson quite a bit for work for nearly three years.
I'd pick ABQ.
And if you've not been to Northern NM (basically north and west of Santa Fe), it's gorgeous. But that's just MHO too.
Oh no, tucson is the same, I hate it here, it's where dreams go to die. I've been to sante fe and it's cool, I like Taos a bit better, but realistically unless you've got money or are an artist you cant really live there.
Northern Az is great too (Sedona, Flagstaff) but I don't have the money to live there, nor do the cities have the means to support a large economy.
Stew is being a family man, and I can respect that, I'm just not a fan of ABQ. But you're right. of those choices I'd pick ABQ too