Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nevada

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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.

Winnemucca Population: 7,752 644 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,673

Winnemucca, NV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nevada with 644 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (513), robbery (60), rape (72) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 55% 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.

Reno Population: 250,903 596 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 168 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,235

The second most dangerous city is Reno. With a population of 250,903 and a violent crime rate that is 43% higher than the Nevada average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Reno are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 596 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 168 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Elko Population: 20,396 527 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 190 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,220

Home to 20,396 residents, Elko, NV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nevada. Unfortunately for residents of Elko, crime is widespread, with more than 527 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.45 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 27% higher than the Nevada violent crime rate.

Las Vegas Population: 644,594 470 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 213 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,552

With a violent crime rate that is 13% higher than the Nevada average, it's not hard to see why Las Vegas made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (78), assault (335), rape (50) and homicide (8). 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 Las Vegas more vulnerable to high crime.

Sparks Population: 102,895 389 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,653

The ongoing battle with crime in Sparks, 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 389 and a 1 in 257 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Sparks 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 Sparks.

Henderson Population: 309,955 293 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 341 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,349

Henderson, NV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 293 per 100,000 people, which is 30% lower than the Nevada average. Henderson has a population of 309,955, which translates to 0.80 crimes per day and 1 in 341 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 Henderson which are much safer than others.

North Las Vegas Population: 247,248 262 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 381 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,343

A 1 in 381 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.72 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why North Las Vegas makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 262 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 37% lower than the Nevada average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (152), robbery (92), rape (11) and homicide (7).

Mesquite Population: 19,087 189 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 528 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,387

Mesquite, NV is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nevada and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 19,087 and a violent crime rate of 189 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 145 counts of assault, 31 counts of robbery, 13 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Mesquite violent crime rate is 55% lower than the Nevada average.

Boulder City Population: 16,048 175 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 572 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,062

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, Boulder City, NV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nevada with a violent crime rate of 175 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.48 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 572 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Fallon Population: 8,540 137 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 731 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,494

Rounding out our list at #10 is Fallon, NV. With a population of 8,540 and a violent crime rate of 137 per 100,000 people (67% lower than the Nevada average), some parts of Fallon are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 116 counts of assault, 21 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 731 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	Winnemucca	7,752	644	2,673
2	Reno	250,903	596	3,235
3	Elko	20,396	527	2,220
4	Las Vegas	644,594	470	3,552
5	Sparks	102,895	389	2,653
6	Henderson	309,955	293	2,349
7	North Las Vegas	247,248	262	2,343
8	Mesquite	19,087	189	1,387
9	Boulder City	16,048	175	1,062
10	Fallon	8,540	137	1,494

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

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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.