New Mexico has a mild temperature, rich history and culture, and active artistic scene development. New Mexico does, however, have quite low safety standards compared to other states in the United States as its crime rates are somewhat higher than those of the nation as a whole. New Mexico has certain cities, nevertheless, with relatively low crime rates and very safe areas. Therefore, the issue that begs to be posed is: Looking at the current FBI crime data and analyzing numerous elements to ascertain the degree of safety in every city of the state, one may infer that one city is safer than others and is the safest one in the state.
Crime Index in Cities of New Mexico
I had to weigh the most recent statistics on crime rates gathered from the FBI reports of major metropolitan areas in New Mexico to determine which city in the state is the safest. Part I crimes including murder, rape, robbery, serious assault, burglary, larceny-theft, vehicle theft, and arson are noted in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Major New Mexico cities listed highest to lowest crime rates based on the violent and property crime rates per 1,000 citizens:
1. Albuquerque
2. Santa Fe
3. Las Cruces
4. Rio Rancho
5. Roswell
Evaluating Safety Factors
However, the crime rate is only one way through which the safety of a city can be gauged. Other factors that should be considered about safety are the quality of education provided by the schools, the economic well-being of the region, community involvement, and responsiveness to safety issues and natural disasters. Below I have assessed these other safety factors for the cities mentioned above to obtain a more comprehensive view.
School Quality: The percentage of students passing the test and graduation rates were also higher in Rio Rancho and Los Alamos which showcase better education in the two areas. This impacts positively on public safety as the youth gain better education which reduces their ability to engage in criminal activities.
Economic Prosperity: Of the remaining indicators, both the income level and employment rate showed that Rio Rancho and Los Alamos are in the best economic health. It must also be noted that both poverty and lack of economic opportunity raise the risk of violence in urban neighborhoods.
Community Engagement: Survey results in voting and volunteering indicated that Los Alamos and Rio Rancho ranked highest in civic engagement. This indicates the people residing there who try to make improvements to make their neighborhoods or towns more livable.
Emergency Preparedness: Preparedness about disasters and hazards reduces potential risks posed by storms, wildfires, health crises, etc. Several studies have established that Los Alamos is the country’s most disaster-ready community by demonstrating disaster readiness by city infrastructural and service provisions.
The Safer City in New Mexico
Thus, taking into consideration the crime rates and further analysis of the rest of the safety parameters, Los Alamos proves to be the safest city in New Mexico. The reported incidence of violent crime is the lowest in the city and the property crime rate is the second lowest in the state. Furthermore, Los Alamos has a higher rating in education quality, average income, home value, and an active populace, not to mention it is also ready for something like an emergency. Popularly known as the city where the atomic bomb was developed, the laboratories are also national nuclear weapons that contribute to research and development and offer employment opportunities and technology. Facilities at the local, county, and federal levels that support the labs help ensure that Los Alamos remains one of the best places in terms of public infrastructure and services, environment, and community provisions.
Runners Up for Safety
Rio Rancho: Rio Rancho is one of New Mexico’s youngest cities and the third largest, which operates at a very low crime rate and has excellent schools, high-income levels, and proactive citizens. Sandoval County’s Rio Rancho is located immediately south of Albuquerque and the new city may soon surpass New Mexico’s largest city in economic development in a planned community that has incorporated safety and quality of life into its design.
Placitas: This town sits between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and it reports very low crime rates than many other towns, though it is not as urbanized as some of the other towns in New Mexico. Whether it is for art, a local event, or volunteer work, people pride themselves in the close-knit community that they are part of. It could be appealing for some who seek safety in a small quaint place since Placitas does not possess some of the factors that escalate Los Alamos and Rio Rancho in the ranking because of its small population.
Main Overviews on How to Find Safe Cities in New Mexico
Therefore, for individuals, who are planning to relocate to or are visiting New Mexico or are traveling within New Mexico to find safer areas away from risks other cities bring, the best places to move to or visit are Los Alamos, Rio Rancho, and Placitas. However, safety is not something that can be measured in terms of crimes or percentages only. It is also important to try and find a community that you fit in and this can lead you to the right city to live in as a family. The assessment of livability indicators from employment opportunities, housing, education facilities, recreational facilities, health facilities, etc. will lead you to the safest city as the one that offers you the highest quality of life.
