When selecting a place to live, most people view safety as an important factor. Perhaps you’re planning to move, or maybe you’re just intrigued about whether or not your town made the list. We relied on SafeWise and the most recent crime data from the FBI to determine which are the safest places to live in New Mexico.
The FBI combines the following offenses into the category of violent crime: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. (The FBI data that we used is from 2013).
- Corrales (population 8374)
Flickr/MyEyeSees In 2012, there were only 0.58 violent crimes per 1000 people in the town of Corrales and 6.34 property crimes per 1000 people. There hasn’t been a single murder since before 2003. However, if you decide to visit, there are two wineries!
- Lordsburg (population 2665)
Flickr/Patrick Finnegan There hasn’t been a murder in the village of Lordsburg, in over five years. There were 5.75 violent crimes per 1000 people and 4.31 property crimes per 1000 people, in 2012. Lordsburg is just off I-10 and, if you’re headed that way, definitely check out the Shakespeare Ghost Town.
- Questa (population 1767)
Flickr/Gord McKenna In 2013, there weren’t any reported murders, rapes or robberies in the mountain town of Questa. Per 1000 people in 2012, there were 1.12 violent crimes and 9.02 property crimes. Presumably everyone was too busy hiking to get into trouble!
- Sunland Park (population 15,400)
Flickr/Samat Jain In 2013, there were no murders in this border town. In fact, there were only 0.41 violent crimes per 1000 people and 13.51 property crimes in 2012.
- Santa Clara (population 1678)
Flickr/Patrick Alexander Teeny Santa Clara only experienced 1.28 violent crimes and 12.48 property crimes per 1000 people during 2012. (Photo of nearby Kneeling Nun Overlook.)
- Edgewood (population 3777)
Wikimedia Commons/AllenS Your chances of being a victim of crime in Edgewood, which is located east of Albuquerque, is 1 in 629! In 2012 there were 2.11 violent crimes and 19.58 property crimes per 1000 people. It’s worth visiting, if only for the excellent Wildlife West Nature Park.
- Jal (population 2153)
Flickr/Nicolas Henderson In 2013, there were no reported rapes, murders, or robberies in Jal, which is in a rural area, near the Texas border. The 2012 rate of violent crime was 7.23 per 1000 and 14.47 for property crimes.
- Bayard (population 2313)
Flickr/John Fowler Between 2004 and 2012, there were no reported incidents or rape or murder in this town, which lies east of Silver City. Bayard is best known the Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark, an old, abandoned military base.
- Rio Rancho (population 93,820)
Flickr/AmyM Howard Although Rio Rancho abuts Albuquerque and has a much larger population than the other places on this list, crime remains relatively low. In 2012, violent crime was 41.64% below the national average.
- Lovington (population 11,840)
Flickr/Denver Gingerich Between 2010 and 2012, there was one murder in Lovington, which is located in southeastern New Mexico. In 2012, there were only 4.03 violent crimes and 20.18 property crimes per 1000 people.
Did your town make the list? Do you think it should have? If you want to explore more of New Mexico’s charming and beautiful towns, check out this NM small town road trip.
Flickr/MyEyeSees
In 2012, there were only 0.58 violent crimes per 1000 people in the town of Corrales and 6.34 property crimes per 1000 people. There hasn’t been a single murder since before 2003. However, if you decide to visit, there are two wineries!
Flickr/Patrick Finnegan
There hasn’t been a murder in the village of Lordsburg, in over five years. There were 5.75 violent crimes per 1000 people and 4.31 property crimes per 1000 people, in 2012. Lordsburg is just off I-10 and, if you’re headed that way, definitely check out the Shakespeare Ghost Town.
Flickr/Gord McKenna
In 2013, there weren’t any reported murders, rapes or robberies in the mountain town of Questa. Per 1000 people in 2012, there were 1.12 violent crimes and 9.02 property crimes. Presumably everyone was too busy hiking to get into trouble!
Flickr/Samat Jain
In 2013, there were no murders in this border town. In fact, there were only 0.41 violent crimes per 1000 people and 13.51 property crimes in 2012.
Flickr/Patrick Alexander
Teeny Santa Clara only experienced 1.28 violent crimes and 12.48 property crimes per 1000 people during 2012. (Photo of nearby Kneeling Nun Overlook.)
Wikimedia Commons/AllenS
Your chances of being a victim of crime in Edgewood, which is located east of Albuquerque, is 1 in 629! In 2012 there were 2.11 violent crimes and 19.58 property crimes per 1000 people. It’s worth visiting, if only for the excellent Wildlife West Nature Park.
Flickr/Nicolas Henderson
In 2013, there were no reported rapes, murders, or robberies in Jal, which is in a rural area, near the Texas border. The 2012 rate of violent crime was 7.23 per 1000 and 14.47 for property crimes.
Flickr/John Fowler
Between 2004 and 2012, there were no reported incidents or rape or murder in this town, which lies east of Silver City. Bayard is best known the Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark, an old, abandoned military base.
Flickr/AmyM Howard
Although Rio Rancho abuts Albuquerque and has a much larger population than the other places on this list, crime remains relatively low. In 2012, violent crime was 41.64% below the national average.
Flickr/Denver Gingerich
Between 2010 and 2012, there was one murder in Lovington, which is located in southeastern New Mexico. In 2012, there were only 4.03 violent crimes and 20.18 property crimes per 1000 people.
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Address: Corrales, NM, USAAddress: Lordsburg, NM 88045, USAAddress: Questa, NM 87556, USAAddress: Sunland Park, NM, USAAddress: Santa Clara, NM, USAAddress: Edgewood, NM 87015, USAAddress: Jal, NM 88252, USAAddress: Bayard, NM 88023, USAAddress: Rio Rancho, NM, USAAddress: Lovington, NM 88260, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Safest Places To Live In New Mexico November 20, 2020 Leah What are the most charming small towns in New Mexico? Enjoy the most peaceful towns in New Mexico that are full of charm when you visit these special spots. People love checking out Taos for many reasons, namely the beauty and history behind it. Other than the town itself - which is plenty charming to visit alone - it’s also the site of the Taos Pueblo, one of the longest inhabited places in the entire country. For a town nestled in a gorgeous natural setting, try Cloudcroft, New Mexico. This mountain town used to be accessible by pack mule only due to its remoteness, but now you can visit it more easily while taking in its amazing location. What is the most dangerous place to live in New Mexico? When considering where to live in New Mexico, many factors come into play. Before deciding on any one spot, look into its crime statistics. The most dangerous place to live in the state is Albuquerque. Being that it’s the largest city in the state, this doesn’t come to much surprise. There were over 7,000 violent crimes in the city in 2018. When you consider there are over 560,000 residents in the city, however, things are put more into perspective. Here is a list of the other top-rating cities with high crime statistics in New Mexico in case you wanted to learn more. What is the smallest town in New Mexico? The most peaceful towns in New Mexico are often the smallest. When there are few people around and everyone knows everybody, crime rates tend to be pretty low. The town with the smallest population in the Land of Enchantment is Grenville with only 38 residents. There are plenty of other small towns in the state with under 100 residents, such as Folsom Village - a town with only 56 residents. Folsom Village is pretty neat to visit, though. It’s located close to the Capulin Volcano National Monument and is known for its impressive archeological site that has unearthed bits and pieces of human history spanning over 12,000 years.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Safest Places To Live In New Mexico
November 20, 2020
Leah
What are the most charming small towns in New Mexico? Enjoy the most peaceful towns in New Mexico that are full of charm when you visit these special spots. People love checking out Taos for many reasons, namely the beauty and history behind it. Other than the town itself - which is plenty charming to visit alone - it’s also the site of the Taos Pueblo, one of the longest inhabited places in the entire country. For a town nestled in a gorgeous natural setting, try Cloudcroft, New Mexico. This mountain town used to be accessible by pack mule only due to its remoteness, but now you can visit it more easily while taking in its amazing location. What is the most dangerous place to live in New Mexico? When considering where to live in New Mexico, many factors come into play. Before deciding on any one spot, look into its crime statistics. The most dangerous place to live in the state is Albuquerque. Being that it’s the largest city in the state, this doesn’t come to much surprise. There were over 7,000 violent crimes in the city in 2018. When you consider there are over 560,000 residents in the city, however, things are put more into perspective. Here is a list of the other top-rating cities with high crime statistics in New Mexico in case you wanted to learn more. What is the smallest town in New Mexico? The most peaceful towns in New Mexico are often the smallest. When there are few people around and everyone knows everybody, crime rates tend to be pretty low. The town with the smallest population in the Land of Enchantment is Grenville with only 38 residents. There are plenty of other small towns in the state with under 100 residents, such as Folsom Village - a town with only 56 residents. Folsom Village is pretty neat to visit, though. It’s located close to the Capulin Volcano National Monument and is known for its impressive archeological site that has unearthed bits and pieces of human history spanning over 12,000 years.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Enjoy the most peaceful towns in New Mexico that are full of charm when you visit these special spots. People love checking out Taos for many reasons, namely the beauty and history behind it. Other than the town itself - which is plenty charming to visit alone - it’s also the site of the Taos Pueblo, one of the longest inhabited places in the entire country. For a town nestled in a gorgeous natural setting, try Cloudcroft, New Mexico. This mountain town used to be accessible by pack mule only due to its remoteness, but now you can visit it more easily while taking in its amazing location.
What is the most dangerous place to live in New Mexico?
When considering where to live in New Mexico, many factors come into play. Before deciding on any one spot, look into its crime statistics. The most dangerous place to live in the state is Albuquerque. Being that it’s the largest city in the state, this doesn’t come to much surprise. There were over 7,000 violent crimes in the city in 2018. When you consider there are over 560,000 residents in the city, however, things are put more into perspective. Here is a list of the other top-rating cities with high crime statistics in New Mexico in case you wanted to learn more.
What is the smallest town in New Mexico?
The most peaceful towns in New Mexico are often the smallest. When there are few people around and everyone knows everybody, crime rates tend to be pretty low. The town with the smallest population in the Land of Enchantment is Grenville with only 38 residents. There are plenty of other small towns in the state with under 100 residents, such as Folsom Village - a town with only 56 residents. Folsom Village is pretty neat to visit, though. It’s located close to the Capulin Volcano National Monument and is known for its impressive archeological site that has unearthed bits and pieces of human history spanning over 12,000 years.
