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D

Is Albuquerque, New Mexico Safe?

Population 556,588 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Albuquerque has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 259.1 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,930 per 100K.

Albuquerque Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricAlbuquerqueNew Mexico AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate322.0332.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2268.92123.71,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate208.0--268.2
Theft Rate1930.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate531.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

259.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

322/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2269/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Albuquerque

Violent crime in Albuquerque is close to the national average. The rate of 322.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2268.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,930 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Albuquerque Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault208
078% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery44
070% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary436
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,930
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft531
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Albuquerque Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Albuquerque
322.0
State
332.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Albuquerque
2268.9
State
2123.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Albuquerque Safety

Is Albuquerque safe?
Not especially. Albuquerque earns a D with a crime rate of 259.1 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 Albuquerque?
259.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 322.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2268.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Albuquerque safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Albuquerque's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,930 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Albuquerque?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Albuquerque generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Albuquerque police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Albuquerque?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Albuquerque's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Albuquerque compare to other cities in New Mexico?
Below average for the state. Albuquerque ranks behind about 83% of New Mexico cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Albuquerque to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Albuquerque?
Bad. A D grade and 259.1 per-thousand rate put Albuquerque below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 322 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Albuquerque?
322.0 per 100,000, which is 11% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (208), robbery (44), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all New Mexico 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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