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.

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Gallup Population: 22,253 1,504 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 67 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,400

Gallup, NM holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Mexico with 1,504 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,144), robbery (250), rape (75) and homicide (35) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 110% 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.

Albuquerque Population: 579,406 1,182 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,811

The second most dangerous city is Albuquerque. With a population of 579,406 and a violent crime rate that is 65% higher than the New Mexico average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Albuquerque are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,182 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 85 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Belen Population: 7,771 1,159 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,394

Home to 7,771 residents, Belen, NM ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Mexico. Unfortunately for residents of Belen, crime is widespread, with more than 1,159 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.17 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 62% higher than the New Mexico violent crime rate.

Farmington Population: 46,071 951 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,411

With a violent crime rate that is 33% 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 (72), assault (754), rape (121) and homicide (4). 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.

Taos Population: 6,117 937 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 107 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,915

The ongoing battle with crime in Taos, 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 937 and a 1 in 107 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Taos has a violent crime rate that is 31% 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 Taos.

Roswell Population: 49,357 848 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 118 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,357

Roswell, NM comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 848 per 100,000 people, which is 18% higher than the New Mexico average. Roswell has a population of 49,357, which translates to 2.32 crimes per day and 1 in 118 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 Roswell which are much safer than others.

Santa Fe Population: 86,648 842 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,999

A 1 in 119 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.31 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Santa Fe makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 842 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 17% higher than the New Mexico average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (684), robbery (89), rape (65) and homicide (4).

Truth or Consequences Population: 5,976 819 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,292

Truth or Consequences, NM is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,976 and a violent crime rate of 819 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 735 counts of assault, 17 counts of robbery, 50 counts of rape and 17 counts of homicide. All told, the Truth or Consequences violent crime rate is 14% higher than the New Mexico average.

Hobbs Population: 39,472 790 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,542

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, Hobbs, NM comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Mexico with a violent crime rate of 790 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.17 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 127 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Portales Population: 12,084 782 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 128 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,653

Rounding out our list at #10 is Portales, NM. With a population of 12,084 and a violent crime rate of 782 per 100,000 people (9% higher than the New Mexico average), some parts of Portales are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 680 counts of assault, 42 counts of robbery, 51 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 128 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	22,253	1,504	5,400
2	Albuquerque	579,406	1,182	5,811
3	Belen	7,771	1,159	5,394
4	Farmington	46,071	951	3,411
5	Taos	6,117	937	6,915
6	Roswell	49,357	848	3,357
7	Santa Fe	86,648	842	5,999
8	Truth or Consequences	5,976	819	3,292
9	Hobbs	39,472	790	4,542
10	Portales	12,084	782	3,653
11	Las Cruces	106,024	720	5,593
12	Bloomfield	8,020	709	2,169
13	Las Vegas	13,406	655	2,122
14	Los Lunas	16,172	584	3,496
15	Carlsbad	30,034	525	3,316
16	Artesia	12,890	494	2,650
17	Bernalillo	10,437	481	1,794
18	Raton	6,164	470	1,476
19	Aztec	6,661	458	1,915
20	Grants	9,333	424	2,044
21	Edgewood	6,322	393	1,636
22	Alamogordo	32,584	334	3,181
23	Sunland Park	18,197	328	906
24	Rio Rancho	100,592	318	1,658
25	Corrales	8,837	231	624
26	Anthony	9,529	80	321
27	Los Alamos	13,326	56	454

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.