I lived in New Mexico. Farmington for a year. Yeah, I agree with you on Reno, but Carson City is completely different. I spent a week down there.
There's a long story behind the choosing of that place. Mostly, because my mother-n-law wants to go there, and I'm sick of the Socialist Republic of Washington. Nevada is inherently more conservative. So is Arizona, though.
Best of luck with your choice of a new home.