Most dangerous cities in New Mexico research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in New Mexico based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:
-
The most dangerous city in New Mexico is Belen based on the most recent FBI crime data.
-
The violent crime rate in New Mexico is 1,888 per 100k people.
-
The property crime rate in New Mexico is 4,778 per 100k people.
-
The safest city in New Mexico is Los Alamos.
-
New Mexico is the 1st most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References
In New Mexico it’s a given that you have to watch out for flying saucers and aliens in Roswell and temperatures that could fry an egg on a sidewalk, but did you know that you also have to watch out for the state’s most dangerous places?
That’s right. There really are dangerous places in New Mexico. Some might say it’s because there are a lot of illegals, some might say the state needs to offer better jobs with competitive salaries, and some might say that it’s just people being people; any way you look at it, the numbers don’t lie. And lucky for you, RoadSnacks is here to tell you the top ten most dangerous places in The Land of Enchantment for 2023.
How’d we determine the most dangerous places in New Mexico? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 29 cities. We looked at the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents.
We discovered a couple of things. One, the residents of New Mexico should not be too shocked by this considering they are the number two most dangerous state in the country. Two, the state’s violent crime and property crime numbers have left the national average in the dust.in a bad way, And three, you should probably take a look at our list before you make in life changing decisions.
Have we piqued your interest? Want to know more about our methodology and where the most dangerous places in New Mexico are located? Keep reading.
The Most Dangerous Cities In New Mexico For 2023
Yes, the state has 146 law enforcement agencies employing close to 5,000 police officers, but they just can’t be everywhere. So, bigger cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe are starting to feel the effects; but, the place that’s getting hit the worst is New Mexico’s most dangerous place, Belen.
The New Mexico places on our most dangerous list could definitely use a hug. If you’re looking to be that diamond in the ruff, or you’re just curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at our list below. And if you don’t see your city there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in New Mexico.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more New Mexico reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New Mexico
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Mexico
- Most Dangerous Cities In New Mexico
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In New Mexico For 2023
Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem, but this small town is not quite peaceful. For a town of 7,094, Belen has a lot of crime, and it’s 188% higher than the national average. That means you have a 1 in 52 chance of being a victim of murder, rape, robbery, or aggravated assault. And you have a 1 in 20 chance of being a victim of property crime. That’s why Belen ranks as one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023 and is also on the worst places to live in New Mexico list too.
Belen may be a historic community in the Rio Grande Valley but not a safe place to live.
/10
Population: 7,094
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,888 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,778 (Second most dangerous)
More on Belen: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located in the northwest corner of New Mexico, Gallup is famous for being mentioned in the song ” Route 66″. But now, Gallup is also famous because it ranks fifth highest in property crime and second highest in violent crime, making it the most dangerous city in New Mexico for 2023. These numbers may be why Gallup is also known for being one of the worst places to live in New Mexico.
Gallup experienced 381 violent crimes, mostly aggravated assault. And of the property crimes, residents experienced 623 personal property crimes. For a city with a population of 21,460 those numbers are high. So if you’re taking a ride down Route 66 and stop in Gallup, watch out for suspicious characters and keep your valuables close to you.
/10
Population: 21,460
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,775 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,249 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Gallup: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Ever seen Breaking Bad? Then you might already think of Albuquerque as a dangerous place. That well-respected TV series told the story of a chemistry teacher turned violent drug dealer — a dark tale set in New Mexico’s biggest city.
Fictional gang wars aside, Albuquerque suffers many of the problems endemic to large cities. That includes crime. As such, it’s no surprise that the metro area ranks as the number 3 most dangerous location in New Mexico. In a population of 564,147, the community saw 120 murders and 497 sexual assaults. Albuquerque also experiences high rates of burglaries, robberies, arsons, and car thefts.
/10
Population: 564,147
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,388 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,351 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Albuquerque: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
When Deming was founded, residents nicknamed it “New Chicago”. Being located at a major railroad hub, everyone believed that Deming would grow to be a large, bustling city. Deming never did grow as expected, but it has one thing in common with the big city of Chicago — crime.
Deming is has been one of the worst place sto live in New Mexico last several years. With crime statistics like residents having a 1 in 21 chance of a property crime and ranking seventh highest in violent crime, it’s no wonder why Deming ranks as one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023.
/10
Population: 14,011
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 899 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,703 (Third most dangerous)
More on Deming: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Los Lunas is one of the fastest-growing cities in New Mexico. Maybe that’s why Los Lunas is also one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023, which is down 5 from last year.
Located 19 miles south of Albuquerque, Los Lunas was named after the first settlers, the Luna family. Today’s residents have a 1 in 26 chance of being a property crime victim and a 1 in 83 chance of being a victim of a violent crime victim like rape, robbery, or aggravated assault. As part of the growing Albuquerque metropolitan area, Los Lunas is also one of the richest cities in New Mexico.
The 1% in this town better hold on to their valuables.
/10
Population: 15,929
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,199 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,716 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Los Lunas: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located in the Sangre de Cristos Mountains in Northern New Mexico, the artist residents of Taos have a 1 in 20 chance of being a victim of a property crime, which is a lot for a town of 5,917. But the good news is that crime is down 3 from last year.
Taos is one of the most diverse cities in New Mexico. But it also is number 6 on the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023.
If you’re thinking about relocating or retiring to Taos to experience the clean air and mythical light, just know that this town is also known as one of the worst places to live in New Mexico.
/10
Population: 5,917
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 523 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,884 (Most dangerous)
More on Taos: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
What is it about Farmingtons that make them such dangerous places? Farmington, New Hampshire, represented one of that state’s crime centers. Now, this Farmington presents the number 7 most dangerous communities in New Mexico.
Located in the north-central part of the state, Farmington once made headlines as the location of widespread UFO sighting. That was back in 1950. These days, flying saucers present less of a threat compared to more Earthbound dangers. Specifically, the town faces high rates of murder, rape, burglary, and arson. In terms of violent crime, Farmington reports 497 such violations in a year, in a community of 43,973 people.
/10
Population: 43,973
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,130 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,494 (11th most dangerous)
More on Farmington: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Known for the UFO incident of 1947, Roswell ranks as one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023. Roswell is the county seat of Chaves County and is also the home to Eastern New Mexico University. If you live in Roswell, you can almost guarantee that someone has tried to steal your personal property with larceny numbers at 1,209.
Not only is Roswell on this list, but it’s also on the worst places to live in the New Mexico list. Because these numbers are down 8 from last year, Roswell residents and the little green men can’t be happy that.
/10
Population: 47,533
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 793 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,441 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Roswell: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Clovis may be one of the most diverse places to live in New Mexico, but it’s also one of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico as well. Located near the Texas border, Clovis is named after the indigenous people of the area believed to have traveled over the Bering Strait to follow migrating mammoths.
Clovis is one of the best cities for singles but it also ranks number 2 in rape and number 10 in murder for the entire state.
But these numbers are a bit misleading because residents have something to celebrate. Clovis’s ranking on this list is down 9 from last year.
/10
Population: 38,734
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 629 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,472 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Clovis: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
If you like bats, you’ll love Carlsbad. The town, located in the southeast part of the state, sits near the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This includes the largest cave chamber in North America and provides a home to 17 separate bat species.
So, this might be the perfect place for Bruce Wayne to build a vacation home. But what about you? Well, even if you have an affinity for flying nocturnal mammals, you might want to think hard about Carlsbad. After all, this represents the number 10 most dangerous places in New Mexico. This includes high rates of arson and car thefts — even more reason for Bruce Wayne to spend some time here.
/10
Population: 30,029
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 5)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 502 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,710 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Carlsbad: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in New Mexico for 2023?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in New Mexico. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in New Mexico, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for New Mexico. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered New Mexico cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 29 cities in New Mexico.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 29 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in New Mexico — Belen. Any ties went to the smaller city.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In New Mexico FAQs
Yes, New Mexico is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #1 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in new mexico ranks second highest in the United States — 100.69% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Land of Enchantment ranks second highest in the United States — 45.13% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Yes, Albuquerque is a dangerous city. Albuquerque ranks as the #10 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Albuquerque might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Valley Gardens is the safest in Albuquerque, while Barelas is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Albuquerque ranks 16th highest in America — 146.27% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 14th highest in the United States — 110.97% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In New Mexico
Summary: Locking It All Up In New Mexico
So what is the most dangerous city in New Mexico? After analyzing 29 cities in New Mexico, Belen takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in New Mexico based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Belen ranks as the most dangerous city in New Mexico for 2023.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Belen and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
Yes, the state has 146 law enforcement agencies employing close to 5,000 police officers, but they just can’t be everywhere. So, bigger cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe are starting to feel the effects; but, the place that’s getting hit the worst is New Mexico’s most dangerous place, Belen.
The New Mexico places on our most dangerous list could definitely use a hug. If you’re looking to be that diamond in the ruff, or you’re just curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at our list below. And if you don’t see your city there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in New Mexico.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in New Mexico:
- Artesia (Pop. 12,286)
- Lovington (Pop. 11,322)
- Sunland Park (Pop. 18,920)
- Truth or Consequences (Pop. 5,791)
- Edgewood (Pop. 6,161)
- Anthony (Pop. 9,284)
- Rio Rancho (Pop. 99,359)
- Raton (Pop. 5,939)
- Corrales (Pop. 8,715)
- Los Alamos (Pop. 19,220)
For more New Mexico reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New Mexico
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Mexico
- Most Dangerous Cities In New Mexico
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New Mexico
- Safest Places In New Mexico
- Worst Places To Live In New Mexico
Crime By City In New Mexico
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Belen | 7,094 |
2 | Gallup | 21,460 |
3 | Albuquerque | 564,147 |
4 | Deming | 14,011 |
5 | Los Lunas | 15,929 |
6 | Taos | 5,917 |
7 | Farmington | 43,973 |
8 | Roswell | 47,533 |
9 | Clovis | 38,734 |
10 | Carlsbad | 30,029 |
11 | Las Cruces | 103,520 |
12 | Bloomfield | 7,633 |
13 | Bernalillo | 10,353 |
14 | Grants | 8,937 |
15 | Portales | 11,675 |
16 | Ruidoso | 7,826 |
17 | Alamogordo | 31,832 |
18 | Las Vegas | 12,799 |
19 | Aztec | 6,289 |
20 | Artesia | 12,286 |
21 | Lovington | 11,322 |
22 | Sunland Park | 18,920 |
23 | Truth or Consequences | 5,791 |
24 | Edgewood | 6,161 |
25 | Anthony | 9,284 |
26 | Rio Rancho | 99,359 |
27 | Raton | 5,939 |
28 | Corrales | 8,715 |
29 | Los Alamos | 19,220 |
References
-
FBI UCR 2022
-
Census – American Cumminity Survey