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Safest Cities in New Mexico (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Carlsbad is the safest city in New Mexico with a crime rate of 21.5 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Deming (22/1K) and Farmington (22.2/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 19 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
24.3per 1K
Below National Avg
1of 19 cities
Above National Avg
18of 19 cities

All 19 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Carlsbad
B-
21.5
2Deming
B-
22
3Farmington
B-
22.2
4Española
B-
22.2
5Sunland Park
B-
22.8
6Hobbs
C+
23.3
7Artesia
C+
23.3
8Las Cruces
C+
24.3
9Rio Rancho
C+
24.5
10Las Vegas
C+
24.5
11Clovis
C+
24.8
12Gallup
C+
24.8
13Albuquerque
C+
24.9
14Santa Fe
C+
25.1
15Alamogordo
C+
25.2
16Portales
C+
26.5
17Los Lunas
C+
26.6
18Lovington
C+
26.8
19Roswell
C
26.9

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in New Mexico

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in New Mexico. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C
Roswell26.9/1K · Elevated · Violent: 398/100K
2
C+
Lovington26.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 460/100K
3
C+
Los Lunas26.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 372/100K
4
C+
Portales26.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 464/100K
5
C+
Alamogordo25.2/1K · Moderate · Violent: 482/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in New Mexico

What is the safest city in New Mexico?
As of 2026, Carlsbad is the safest city in New Mexico with a crime rate of 21.5 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 54% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in New Mexico?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in New Mexico based on crime rate are: Carlsbad, Deming, Farmington, Española, Sunland Park, Hobbs, Artesia, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Las Vegas.
What is the most dangerous city in New Mexico?
Roswell has the highest crime rate in New Mexico at 26.9 per 1,000 residents, earning a C safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in New Mexico?
The average crime rate across 19 tracked cities in New Mexico is 24.3 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 417 per 100K and property crime averages 2016 per 100K.
Is New Mexico safe to live in?
New Mexico has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 417 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Carlsbad earns a B- while Roswell gets a C. 1 of 19 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in New Mexico?
19 cities in New Mexico are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 1 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for New Mexico →View all New Mexico city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

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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