The 10 Safest Cities In New Mexico For 2024

The safest cities in New Mexico are Los Alamos and Corrales for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

Don't let the fact that New Mexico is ranked 2024s most dangerous state scare you, the safest places in New Mexico are great places to live.

Lucky for you, HomeSnacks is here to save the day: we've created a list of the safest places in The Land of Enchantment for 2024.

How did we determine the safest places in New Mexico? We consulted the numbers and analyzed 32 cities for property and violent crimes per capita for every place with over 5,000 residents.

We discovered that New Mexico has super safe places for every stage of life and budget. For instance, Portales is safe for singles, Corrales is safe for families, and Truth or Consequences is safe for people on a budget.

Want to know more about our methodology and where the safest places in New Mexico are located? Keep reading.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in New Mexico for 2024:

  1. Los Alamos (Homes For Sale)
  2. Corrales (Homes For Sale)
  3. Tucumcari (Homes For Sale)
  4. Anthony (Homes For Sale)
  5. Grants (Homes For Sale)
  6. Raton (Homes For Sale)
  7. Lovington (Homes For Sale)
  8. Truth or Consequences (Homes For Sale)
  9. Sunland Park (Homes For Sale)
  10. Edgewood (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In New Mexico Map

All extraterrestrial talk aside, being the country's most dangerous state means you can only go up from there. And folks, the safest places in New Mexico are trying to help the state do just that.

So, what city is the safest place to live in New Mexico for 2024? According to the most recent FBI data, Los Alamos is the safest place to live in New Mexico.

Scroll down to check out the rest of the safest New Mexico cities. And if you don't find your favorite there, head to the bottom to see how your city ranked.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around New Mexico, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In New Mexico For 2024

Los Alamos, NM
Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Schwen | CC BY-SA 4.0

Population: 19,227
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 46 (second safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 322 (safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Los Alamos: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Known as the Atomic City for being the town that developed the atomic bomb, Los Alamos is a much safer place than back when they were fiddling with nuclear fission there. In fact, we named it the best family city in all of New Mexico, due in part to how safe it is. Los Alamos had the second safest violent crime rate in the state, with an average of only two violent crimes each month. The town also averaged a super-low two property crimes a week, a rate about four times lower than the national average.

Los Alamos is also home to Bandelier National Monument, so you'll never lack for exceptional natural beauty and wildlife.

Corrales, NM
Source: Wikipedia User Chris English | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 8,652
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 150 (fourth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 554 (third safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Corrales: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Located just north Albuquerque, Corrales is the safest place in the Land of Enchantment. With only 13 violent crimes committed in 2022, Corrales had a violent crime rate 11 times lower than the national average. The property crime rate in Corrales was also the third safest in New Mexico. That's good news for folks who want to hit the grower's market on a Sunday morning, without fear of their fresh fruits and veggies getting snatched.

Corrales has more going for it then just safety; we also named the idyllic village the best place to live in New Mexico, meaning everything from house prices to education levels are stellar in Corrales. On the flip side, it's also the richest place to live in New Mexico, so you may want a little nest egg before moving here.

Tucumcari, NM
Source: Wikipedia User Wordbuilder | CC BY 3.0

Population: 5,162
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 968 (sixth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Tucumcari: Data | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Tucumcari, locted along Route 66 in Quay County, holds the title of the third safest city in New Mexico. It has evolved from its 1901 roots as a raucous railroad camp to a peaceful county seat and regional hub. The safety of Tucumcari is evident in its low crime statistics. With just 0 violent crimes and 50 property offenses in the last reporting year, it's clear why it ranks safest in violent crime safety.

Tucumcari's highlights include the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum, Route 66 attractions, vibrant murals, and outdoor adventures at Ute Lake and Conchas Lake State Parks.

Anthony, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 8,631
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 185 (fifth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 637 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Anthony: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
2
/10

Anthony is the fourth safest place in New Mexico due mostly to its super low rate of property crime; the fourth safest in the state. Residents of Anthony had a 1 in 156 chance of being the victim of a property crime in 2022, a rate five times lower than the national average. So you don't have to worry about anyone pitching your wine after a day at La Vina Winery.

Anthony is located just a half hour north of El Paso and the Mexican border.

Grants, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 9,199
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 282 (ninth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 521 (second safest)
Murders: 3
Murders Per 100k: 32
More on Grants: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Located on the Trail of the Ancients Byway 75 miles west of Albuquerque, Grants is the fifth safest city in New Mexico. Grants had the ninth safest rate of violence in the state, with about 1.5 cases a month on average. The property crime rate in Grants is also the second safest statewide, with residents facing a 1 in 191 chance of being the victim of a robbery or theft.

Grants also has the benefit of being a short drive from El Mapais National Monument, with the attendant surplus of great hikes around.

Raton, NM
Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 6,063
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 247 (seventh safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,434 (eighth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Raton: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Located in northeastern New Mexico just 7 miles south of the Colorado border, Raton is the sixth safest city in the state. With just over a violent crime a month on average, Raton had the seventh safest rate of violence in the New Mexico. Raton's more than safe, though - it's fun. As long as you don't run into a mountain lion or a bear at Sugarite Canyon State Park, you should be totally safe.

Raton's also the 5th best city for singles in New Mexico, so you can look for love in total safety.

Lovington, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 11,322
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 97 (third safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,093 (14th safest)
Murders: 2
Murders Per 100k: 17
More on Lovington: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Located in Lea County in the southeastern part of the state, Lovington is the seventh safest city in New Mexico overall. The city had the 14th safest rate of property crime and third safest lowest rate of violent crime in the state. That works out to just over one violent crime committed per month on average.

On top of that, in Lovington, you can learn to protect yourself against predatory animals at Predator University. So whether you're afraid of wolves or criminals, your mind will be equally at ease in Lovington.

Truth Or Consequences, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,060
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 214 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,881 (12th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Truth Or Consequences: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, has one of the all-time great city names. But this town of 6,060 is more than just an interesting moniker. It's also the number 8 safest location in the state.

Truth or Consequences didn't always have that distinctive name. It received it as a result of a 1950 radio contest. Prior to that, the town was known as Hot Springs, getting that designation as a result of its local natural spas.

If you go for the hot springs, you can walk the streets in absolute confidence. The town reported a minimal number of violent crimes for the year, with 13 such events. That equates to a per-capita rate of 214/100k people.

Sunland Park, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 17,441
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 458 (14th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 676 (fifth safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 5
More on Sunland Park: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
4
/10

Historically, border towns often get a reputation as rowdy places. Not Sunland Park. Instead, it stands as the number 9 safest city in New Mexico.

Geographically speaking, Sunland Park, New Mexico, is the definition of a border town. It sits right along the southern edge of the state, just over the line from Mexico. On its east, it runs along the Texas border, right next to the city of El Paso.

Sunland Park offers more than a convenient crossover into a foreign country, or a quick trip to one of Texas's most famous cities. It also has trails along the Rio Grande River, as well as its own racetrack/casino. All these amenities come with the utmost peace of mind. In a population of 17,441, Sunland Park suffered just 80 violent crime. This included a scant 1 robberies.

For property crimes, the news is even better. The city boasted a property-crime rate of 676/100k people, the fifth safest pace in New Mexico.

Edgewood, NM
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,125
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 261 (eighth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,812 (11th safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 16
More on Edgewood: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

A short jaunt down I-40 from Albuquerque, Edgewood, New Mexico, provides access to almost any attraction you'd like. About a half hour from the state's main population center, the community also has its share of nearby natural wonders. It's also located at the cusp of the Cibola National Forest.

Edgewood offers more than just mere location, however. It's also the number 10 safest city in the state. There were 111 property crimes and 16 violent crimes over the course of a year. With a population of 6,125, that equates to an overall crime rate of 2,073/100k people.

The citizens of Edgewood enjoy a median income of $72725. The median home price equals $343385, while the unemployment rate sits at 5.58.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in New Mexico for 2024

Safest Cities in New Mexico Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in New Mexico are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in New Mexico.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 71 crimes committed in Los Alamos, with a reported population of 19,227. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0037, which translates into a 1 in 270 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at New Mexico cities that have populations of more than 5,000. This filter left us with 32 of the biggest cities in New Mexico to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 32 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In New Mexico," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in New Mexico, based on our criteria, is Los Alamos. The most dangerous city in New Mexico? Gallup, where residents had a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in New Mexico. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Best Places To Raise A Family In New Mexico

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Land of Enchantment

Looking at the data, you can tell that Los Alamos is as safe as they come in New Mexico, according to science and data.

But as most New Mexico residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in New Mexico are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in New Mexico according to the data:

  1. Gallup
  2. Albuquerque
  3. Hobbs
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In New Mexico For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Los Alamos, NM 19,227 46 322 0 0
2 Corrales, NM 8,652 150 554 0 0
3 Tucumcari, NM 5,162 0 968 0 0
4 Anthony, NM 8,631 185 637 0 0
5 Grants, NM 9,199 282 521 32 3
6 Raton, NM 6,063 247 1,434 0 0
7 Lovington, NM 11,322 97 2,093 17 2
8 Truth Or Consequences, NM 6,060 214 1,881 0 0
9 Sunland Park, NM 17,441 458 676 5 1
10 Edgewood, NM 6,125 261 1,812 16 1
11 Aztec, NM 6,130 473 1,370 0 0
12 Rio Rancho, NM 107,435 457 1,671 2 3
13 Alamogordo, NM 31,832 317 2,280 0 0
14 Bloomfield, NM 7,335 518 1,567 13 1
15 Ruidoso, NM 7,826 357 2,402 12 1
16 Artesia, NM 12,084 364 2,581 0 0
17 Bernalillo, NM 10,353 763 2,038 0 0
18 Clovis, NM 37,734 689 2,403 2 1
19 Portales, NM 11,975 651 2,480 8 1
20 Carlsbad, NM 31,532 558 2,838 3 1
21 Los Lunas, NM 18,366 511 3,947 0 0
22 Farmington, NM 46,249 1,070 2,384 8 4
23 Roswell, NM 47,625 881 2,983 18 9
24 Las Vegas, NM 13,151 1,018 2,600 7 1
25 Las Cruces, NM 114,102 616 5,339 8 10
26 Deming, NM 14,011 899 4,703 0 0
27 Taos, NM 6,613 695 6,381 0 0
28 Belen, NM 7,460 1,099 4,463 13 1
29 Santa Fe, NM 88,705 923 4,884 5 5
30 Hobbs, NM 38,912 953 4,833 7 3
31 Albuquerque, NM 560,557 1,380 4,795 22 125
32 Gallup, NM 21,228 1,554 4,800 9 2

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In New Mexico

Safest Cities in New Mexico Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

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