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D-

Is Sparks, Nevada Safe?

Population 111,902 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate close to the national average, Sparks faces real safety challenges. It earns a D- grade and ranks below 87% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,831 per 100K.

Sparks Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSparksNevada AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate334.7320.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2461.32227.91,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate249.0--268.2
Theft Rate1831.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate556.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD-

279.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

335/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2461/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Sparks

Violent crime in Sparks is close to the national average. The rate of 334.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2461.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,831 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Sparks Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault249
093% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery75
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary287
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,831
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft556
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Sparks Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Sparks
334.7
State
320.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Sparks
2461.3
State
2227.9
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sparks Safety

Is Sparks safe?
Not especially. Sparks earns a D- with a crime rate of 279.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Sparks?
279.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 334.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2461.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Sparks safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Sparks's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,831 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Sparks?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Sparks generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Sparks police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Sparks?
Crime rates have held steady in Sparks, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Sparks compare to other cities in Nevada?
Below average for the state. Sparks ranks behind about 83% of Nevada cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Sparks to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Sparks?
Bad. A D- grade and 279.6 per-thousand rate put Sparks below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 335 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Sparks?
334.7 per 100,000, which is 8% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (249), robbery (75), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Nevada

Similar-sized communities in Nevada. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
See crime rates in Carson City58,571 pop · Grade D-
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See crime rates in Mesquite24,001 pop · Grade C
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See crime rates in Boulder City14,884 pop · Grade D
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See crime rates in Reno283,621 pop · Grade C-
View all Nevada city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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