Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nevada

Nevada, known for its vibrant entertainment scene and natural beauty, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Las Vegas to the scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe, Nevada provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its festivals, cuisine, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Nevada faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Nevada are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Nevada's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Nevada 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 Nevada. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Nevada's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Reno Population: 250,903 572 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 175 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,127

Reno, NV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nevada with 572 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (357), robbery (110), rape (101) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 26% higher than the Nevada 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.

Winnemucca Population: 7,752 536 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 187 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,202

The second most dangerous city is Winnemucca. With a population of 7,752 and a violent crime rate that is 18% higher than the Nevada average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Winnemucca are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 536 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 187 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Las Vegas Population: 644,594 516 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 194 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,434

Home to 644,594 residents, Las Vegas, NV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nevada. Unfortunately for residents of Las Vegas, crime is widespread, with more than 516 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.41 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 14% higher than the Nevada violent crime rate.

Elko Population: 20,396 465 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 215 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,391

With a violent crime rate that is 2% higher than the Nevada average, it's not hard to see why Elko made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (48), assault (334), rape (77) and homicide (5). 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 Elko more vulnerable to high crime.

North Las Vegas Population: 247,248 422 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 237 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,196

The ongoing battle with crime in North Las Vegas, NV, 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 422 and a 1 in 237 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), North Las Vegas has a violent crime rate that is 7% lower than the Nevada 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 North Las Vegas.

Sparks Population: 102,895 417 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 240 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,429

Sparks, NV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 417 per 100,000 people, which is 8% lower than the Nevada average. Sparks has a population of 102,895, which translates to 1.14 crimes per day and 1 in 240 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 Sparks which are much safer than others.

Henderson Population: 309,955 303 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 330 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,221

A 1 in 330 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.83 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Henderson makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 303 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 33% lower than the Nevada average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (200), robbery (72), rape (30) and homicide (1).

Fallon Population: 8,540 171 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 585 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,613

Fallon, NV is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nevada and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,540 and a violent crime rate of 171 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 150 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the Fallon violent crime rate is 62% lower than the Nevada average.

Mesquite Population: 19,087 156 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 639 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,454

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, Mesquite, NV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nevada with a violent crime rate of 156 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.43 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 639 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Boulder City Population: 16,048 61 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 1,131

Rounding out our list at #10 is Boulder City, NV. With a population of 16,048 and a violent crime rate of 61 per 100,000 people (87% lower than the Nevada average), some parts of Boulder City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 47 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 13 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 1,650 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Nevada

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Reno	250,903	572	3,127
2	Winnemucca	7,752	536	3,202
3	Las Vegas	644,594	516	3,434
4	Elko	20,396	465	2,391
5	North Las Vegas	247,248	422	2,196
6	Sparks	102,895	417	2,429
7	Henderson	309,955	303	2,221
8	Fallon	8,540	171	1,613
9	Mesquite	19,087	156	1,454
10	Boulder City	16,048	61	1,131

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Nevada 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 Nevada 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

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

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.