A new study of city crime rates says that New Mexico is the second most dangerous state in the U.S. Roswell is not only dangerous because of UFO sightings and very high temperatures. The FBI’s most recent crime data for places with more than 5,000 people was used to find the most dangerous spots. The poll found concerning levels of property and violent crimes in 22 places, pointing out the problems caused by illegal immigrants, the economy, and the complexity of people. This complete list of dangerous places in the Land of Enchantment should serve as a sobering warning of the state’s social and economic problems for people who are thinking about making big decisions in their lives.
1. Los Lunas
After growing a lot, Los Lunas became one of the most dangerous towns in New Mexico in 2023. The city of 15,929 people is dangerous, even though it is part of the wealthy Albuquerque metropolitan area. People who live there, especially the rich, should be careful because property crime is 1 in 24 and serious crime is 1 in 77 likely to happen. With 1,286 violent crimes and 4,074 property crimes per 100,000 people, Los Lunas is a great example of how wealth and danger can go together.
2. Roswell
After moving up four spots, Roswell, New Mexico, is now one of the most dangerous towns in New Mexico in 2023. It is famous for the UFO sighting in 1947. With a rate of 1,362, Roswell, which is home to 47,533 people and Eastern New Mexico University, has a high rate of crime. The city is one of the safest and worst places to live in New Mexico because of this scary trend. With 849 serious crimes and 3,772 property crimes per 100,000 people, the situation is very bad and people who live there or want to live there should be careful and make smart choices.
3. Clovis
Clovis is one of New Mexico’s most dangerous towns, even though it has a lot of different cultures living in it. Clovis, which is named after ancient mammoth hunters and is near the border with Texas, has grown by six spots since last year, with a population of 38,734. That being said, it has 673 violent crimes and 3,805 property crimes per 100,000 people, which is the highest rate in the state. It also has the highest rate of rapes and highest rate of killings. There are ongoing safety issues in the city that need to be handled to make the community safer.
4. Artesia
Artesia’s Main Street is one of the safest places to live in New Mexico, but it also has the ninth most dangerous and property crimes. There is a 1 in 32 chance of property crime and a 1 in 190 chance of serious crime for 12,366 people, which is seven places better than last year. Artesia is between Roswell and Carlsbad and got its name from its artesian springs. The town fights to keep its community feel, even though there are 525 serious crimes and 3,040 property crimes per 100,000 people.
5. Las Cruces
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico and home to New Mexico State University. In the past year, crime rates have gone up seven places. In 103,520, there is a 1 in 201 chance of a serious crime and a 1 in 27 chance of a property crime. Las Cruces is one of the most expensive places to live in the state. It is a popular place for singles and is growing quickly. This rise in crime shows how important it is for people to be careful and keep their things safe. With 496 serious crimes and 3,580 property crimes per 100,000 people, Las Cruces is having a hard time keeping the public safe, even though the city is growing and becoming more famous.
6. Taos
The 5,963 people who live in the artsy town of Taos in the Sangre de Cristos Mountains have a 1 in 18 chance of being a victim of property crime. Even though crime has gone down three spots, the city is still ranked ninth among the most dangerous in New Mexico in 2022. Even though Taos has a lot to offer, it is one of the poorest places in the state to live. Even though Taos is beautiful, it has a crime rate of 318 serious crimes and 5,316 property crimes per 100,000 people.
7. Bernalillo
Even though it has vineyards, Bernalillo moves up 10 spots to become one of New Mexico’s most dangerous towns in 2022. Out of the 10,353 people who live there, 121 will be victims of violent crime, most of the time serious attack. Bernalillo is one of the most dangerous and expensive places to live in the state because of this alarming trend. Even though Bernalillo is beautiful and is in the Sandia Mountains near the Rio Grande River, it has 821 serious crimes and 2,240 property crimes per 100,000 people.
8. Deming
Deming used to be called “New Chicago” because of a their railroad crossing, but now there is crime there. The crime rate in Deming is 1 in 19, making it one of the worst places to live in New Mexico. With the fourth-highest serious crime rate in the state for 2022, Deming is one of the most dangerous towns in the state. There are 963 dangerous crimes and 5,153 property crimes per 100,000 people in a city with 14,011 people.
9. Gallup
It is known for “Route 66,” but Gallup is New Mexico’s most dangerous city in 2022. Gallup is one of the worst places to live because it has one of the highest rates of property crime and the second-highest rate of serious crime. There are 437 serious crimes, mostly serious attacks, and 987 property crimes in the city of 21,935 people. People traveling on Route 66 through Gallup should be careful of criminals and keep their things safe. There are 1,992 serious crimes and 6,368 property crimes per 100,000 people in Gallup, which is a problem for public safety.
10. Belen
With 7,094 people living there, Belen, whose name comes from the Spanish word for Bethlehem, is a scary place. There is 188% more crime in this town than in the whole country, even though it looks like a nice place to live. It’s scary to think that violent crimes will happen to residents 1 out of every 49 times and property crimes will happen to residents 1 out of every 19 times. Each 100,000 people in Belen had 2,029 dangerous crimes and 5,243 property crimes in 2022. This made it one of the most dangerous places in New Mexico. It’s important to remember that safety is still hard to find, even in parts of the state that look safe. This old town in the Rio Grande Valley.
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