Generally, Only In New Mexico strives to focus on the many positive aspects of the Land of Enchantment. However, every state has its dark side; inevitably, some places are safer than others. We’ve presented these crimes in the order they typically appear on tables of crime statistics, with murder in the number one spot because it’s the most serious offense. For this article, we used the numbers and statistics compiled by our friends at RoadSnacks, as well as stats from various other crime statistics sites around the net, like the FBI’s website. Which of the most dangerous cities in New Mexico are you surprised to see here? Which ones don’t surprise you at all? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

1. Murder
Flickr/Jen
So far, Belen has the highest rate of murders and violent crime; overall, you have a 1 in 49 chance of becoming a victim - which is terrifying. The crime rate in Belen is an astonishing 188% higher than the national average. You've also got a 1 in 19 chance of being a victim of a property crime.

If you look at places that consistently have high murder rates over several years (rather than one particularly violent year), Gallup is the most dangerous place for murders in New Mexico. It flips the script on Belen, with the highest property crime rate in the state and second-highest violent crime rate (which includes murder).
2. Rape
Flickr/John Terning
There were 895 reported cases of rape in Albuquerque. However, Farmington has the highest rate when you factor in population size. The rate of rape in Farmington was 178.56 per 100,000 people. Several cases in smaller communities like Logan and Angel Fire made them more dangerous on a per capita basis.
3. Robbery
Flickr/Ezra
Taos has some of the highest rates of robbery in New Mexico, with a 1 in 10 risk of becoming a victim of theft of some kind. Bear in mind that the number of overall incidents of robbery in Taos was small, but so too is its population, which means the rate of robbery is among the highest.

Wondering about the difference between theft and robbery? Theft involves taking something that doesn’t belong to you, while robbery means that you’re taking something directly from someone else, using force or the threat of force.
4. Assaults
Flickr/ANOXLOU
Aggravated assault is the most commonly reported crime in New Mexico. It accounts for 79% of all violent crime in the state; among the worst offenders in New Mexico for assaults are Belen, where you have a 1 in 49 chance at being the victim of an assault, Gallup, Deming, and Los Lunas.
5. Burglary
Flickr/Steve deBurque
Burglary is a property crime, and the town with the highest rate of property crimes per capita is, unfortunately, Taos. Don't get us wrong, Taos is a wonderful place to visit. It's one of the best towns in New Mexico by day, especially in the winter, but by night, it turns into something a little more sinister. In Taos you stand a 1 in 18 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime like burglary.
6. Larceny-Theft
Flickr/Wolfgang Staudt
Interestingly, larceny accounted for about 62% of all major non-violent offenses in New Mexico. Gallup is the worst city in New Mexico when it comes to theft and larceny by quite a margin. A city of 21,935 people that saw 987 personal property crimes is notable - and that's Gallup for you.
7. Motor Vehicle Thefts
Wikimedia Commons/(WT-shared) PerryPlanet at wts wikivoyage
Given that Albuquerque is by far the most populous city in the state, it’s no surprise that, according to FBI data, there are around 3558 motor vehicle thefts in the city each year. However, when you take population into account, Los Lunas is the place with the highest rate of motor vehicle thefts. There have been 425.4 thefts per 100,000 people. This is actually down from previous years when the vehicle theft rate here was 517 per 100,000 people. Bottom line: watch your wheels in Los Lunas!

Have you been to the most dangerous cities in New Mexico? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to check out the most updated FBI crime statistics for New Mexico.

How about a palate cleanser? Check out the safest places in New Mexico next.

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Most Dangerous Places in New Mexico

Tori Jane | August 02, 2022

What are the most dangerous towns in New Mexico?  

The most dangerous towns in New Mexico are:

 

The Land of Enchantment is a delightful place to live or visit, but unfortunately, like anywhere else, it’s got its bad apples, too. The violent crime rate is outrageous, and it’s got its fair share of cities and towns you’ll want to avoid at night. Gallup has a crime rate that’s 156.83% higher than the national average – and 66% above the state average. The town of Belen is even worse, with a crime rate that’s 210.05% higher than the national average (and 100.92% higher than the New Mexico average). Deming’s crime rate is 160.72% higher than the national average, and Los Luna’s crime rate is 128.53% above the national average.  

What are some dangerous places to avoid in New Mexico?  

Unfortunately, the list continues. Roswell, though a fun place to visit, is also one of the most dangerous places to avoid in New Mexico at night. Its crime rate is 97.02% higher than the national average; Clovis is not much better. Other dangerous towns in New Mexico you might want to reconsider spending the night in include Taos, Artesia, Las Cruces, and Bernalillo.  

What are some of the dangers of living in New Mexico?  

New Mexico is the single most dangerous state in the country at the time of this writing – and that’s just because of humans doing human things. There are plenty of natural wonders in New Mexico, too, but many of them come with danger. Some of the natural dangers of living in New Mexico include things like tornadoes and large hail – yes, we get those! They tend to stick to the eastern half of the state, but still. Yikes! Heat is also a killer, and so too are wildfires. Lightning is another big one! Insect and snake bites is something to watch out for, too, and you can’t ever hike without water. Dehydration kills, too.  

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