Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Mexico

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New Mexico, known for its vibrant culture and stunning landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Albuquerque to the scenic beauty of the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its art, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, New Mexico faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in New Mexico are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between New Mexico's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in New Mexico involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. New Mexico's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Gallup Population: 21,637 1,360 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,305

Gallup, NM holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Mexico with 1,360 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (980), robbery (249), rape (107) and homicide (24) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 82% higher than the New Mexico average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Belen Population: 7,476 1,345 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,882

The second most dangerous city is Belen. With a population of 7,476 and a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the New Mexico average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Belen are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,345 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Albuquerque Population: 560,447 1,317 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 76 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,022

Home to 560,447 residents, Albuquerque, NM ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Mexico. Unfortunately for residents of Albuquerque, crime is widespread, with more than 1,317 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.61 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 76% higher than the New Mexico violent crime rate.

Farmington Population: 44,967 1,067 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,616

With a violent crime rate that is 42% higher than the New Mexico average, it's not hard to see why Farmington made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (74), assault (834), rape (141) and homicide (17). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Farmington more vulnerable to high crime.

Las Vegas Population: 13,055 1,062 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,303

The ongoing battle with crime in Las Vegas, NM, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,062 and a 1 in 94 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Las Vegas has a violent crime rate that is 42% higher than the New Mexico average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Las Vegas.

Taos Population: 5,950 1,028 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,462

Taos, NM comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,028 per 100,000 people, which is 37% higher than the New Mexico average. Taos has a population of 5,950, which translates to 2.82 crimes per day and 1 in 97 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Taos which are much safer than others.

Roswell Population: 47,751 915 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,790

A 1 in 109 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.51 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Roswell makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 915 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 22% higher than the New Mexico average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (766), robbery (60), rape (75) and homicide (15).

Hobbs Population: 38,475 886 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 113 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,854

Hobbs, NM is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 38,475 and a violent crime rate of 886 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 713 counts of assault, 64 counts of robbery, 92 counts of rape and 18 counts of homicide. All told, the Hobbs violent crime rate is 18% higher than the New Mexico average.

Santa Fe Population: 84,418 854 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,821

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Santa Fe, NM comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Mexico with a violent crime rate of 854 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.34 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 117 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Truth or Consequences Population: 5,839 723 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 138 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,439

Rounding out our list at #10 is Truth or Consequences, NM. With a population of 5,839 and a violent crime rate of 723 per 100,000 people (3% lower than the New Mexico average), some parts of Truth or Consequences are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 673 counts of assault, 50 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 138 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Gallup	21,637	1,360	5,305
2	Belen	7,476	1,345	4,882
3	Albuquerque	560,447	1,317	6,022
4	Farmington	44,967	1,067	3,616
5	Las Vegas	13,055	1,062	3,303
6	Taos	5,950	1,028	6,462
7	Roswell	47,751	915	3,790
8	Hobbs	38,475	886	5,854
9	Santa Fe	84,418	854	5,821
10	Truth or Consequences	5,839	723	2,439
11	Aztec	6,467	722	1,855
12	Bloomfield	7,791	630	2,136
13	Los Lunas	15,814	600	3,676
14	Las Cruces	102,950	578	5,980
15	Carlsbad	29,278	559	3,142
16	Clovis	38,701	553	2,835
17	Edgewood	6,113	427	1,922
18	Rio Rancho	97,976	412	1,902
19	Sunland Park	17,581	412	1,162
20	Alamogordo	31,635	406	3,337
21	Raton	6,020	286	1,514
22	Artesia	12,463	214	3,038
23	Anthony	9,283	209	674
24	Corrales	8,636	118	494

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included New Mexico cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.