Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Mexico

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 1,555 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,355

Gallup, NM holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Mexico with 1,555 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,192), robbery (278), rape (75) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 99% 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: 560,447 1,380 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,176

The second most dangerous city is Albuquerque. With a population of 560,447 and a violent crime rate that is 77% 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 1,380 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 72 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Belen Population: 7,476 1,099 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 91 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,563

Home to 7,476 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 1,099 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.01 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 41% higher than the New Mexico violent crime rate.

Farmington Population: 44,967 1,070 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,455

With a violent crime rate that is 37% 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 (63), assault (830), rape (169) and homicide (9). 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 1,019 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,620

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 1,019 and a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas.

Hobbs Population: 38,475 953 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,787

Hobbs, NM comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 953 per 100,000 people, which is 22% higher than the New Mexico average. Hobbs has a population of 38,475, which translates to 2.61 crimes per day and 1 in 105 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 Hobbs which are much safer than others.

Santa Fe Population: 84,418 923 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,808

A 1 in 108 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.53 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 923 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 18% higher than the New Mexico average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (758), robbery (113), rape (47) and homicide (6).

Roswell Population: 47,751 882 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 113 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,866

Roswell, NM is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 47,751 and a violent crime rate of 882 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 724 counts of assault, 59 counts of robbery, 80 counts of rape and 19 counts of homicide. All told, the Roswell violent crime rate is 13% higher than the New Mexico average.

Taos Population: 5,950 696 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,077

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, Taos, NM comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Mexico with a violent crime rate of 696 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.91 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 144 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Clovis Population: 38,701 689 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 145 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,093

Rounding out our list at #10 is Clovis, NM. With a population of 38,701 and a violent crime rate of 689 per 100,000 people (12% lower than the New Mexico average), some parts of Clovis are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 588 counts of assault, 29 counts of robbery, 69 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 145 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	1,555	6,355
2	Albuquerque	560,447	1,380	6,176
3	Belen	7,476	1,099	5,563
4	Farmington	44,967	1,070	3,455
5	Las Vegas	13,055	1,019	3,620
6	Hobbs	38,475	953	5,787
7	Santa Fe	84,418	923	5,808
8	Roswell	47,751	882	3,866
9	Taos	5,950	696	7,077
10	Clovis	38,701	689	3,093
11	Portales	11,713	651	3,132
12	Las Cruces	102,950	617	5,957
13	Carlsbad	29,278	558	3,397
14	Bloomfield	7,791	518	2,086
15	Los Lunas	15,814	512	4,459
16	Aztec	6,467	473	1,843
17	Sunland Park	17,581	459	1,135
18	Rio Rancho	97,976	457	2,129
19	Artesia	12,463	364	2,946
20	Grants	8,987	283	804
21	Edgewood	6,113	261	2,073
22	Raton	6,020	247	1,682
23	Truth or Consequences	5,839	215	2,096
24	Anthony	9,283	185	823
25	Corrales	8,636	150	705
26	Los Alamos	12,978	47	369

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.