Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nevada

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Nevada, known for its vibrant entertainment scene and natural beauty, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Las Vegas to the scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe, Nevada provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its festivals, cuisine, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Nevada faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Nevada are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Nevada's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Nevada involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Nevada. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Nevada's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Winnemucca Population: 7,752 694 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,020

Winnemucca, NV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nevada with 694 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (463), robbery (24), rape (183) and homicide (24) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 73% higher than the Nevada average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Reno Population: 250,903 530 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,975

The second most dangerous city is Reno. With a population of 250,903 and a violent crime rate that is 32% higher than the Nevada average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Reno are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 530 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 189 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Las Vegas Population: 644,594 430 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 233 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,053

Home to 644,594 residents, Las Vegas, NV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nevada. Unfortunately for residents of Las Vegas, crime is widespread, with more than 430 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.18 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 7% higher than the Nevada violent crime rate.

Elko Population: 20,396 398 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 251 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,836

With a violent crime rate that is 1% lower than the Nevada average, it's not hard to see why Elko made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (19), assault (278), rape (91) and homicide (10). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Elko more vulnerable to high crime.

Sparks Population: 102,895 394 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 254 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,978

The ongoing battle with crime in Sparks, NV, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 394 and a 1 in 254 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Sparks has a violent crime rate that is 2% lower than the Nevada average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Sparks.

North Las Vegas Population: 247,248 389 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,350

North Las Vegas, NV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 389 per 100,000 people, which is 3% lower than the Nevada average. North Las Vegas has a population of 247,248, which translates to 1.07 crimes per day and 1 in 257 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in North Las Vegas which are much safer than others.

Henderson Population: 309,955 272 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 367 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,987

A 1 in 367 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.75 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Henderson makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 272 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 32% lower than the Nevada average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (187), robbery (52), rape (31) and homicide (2).

Fallon Population: 8,540 207 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 483 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,356

Fallon, NV is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nevada and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,540 and a violent crime rate of 207 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 197 counts of assault, 10 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Fallon violent crime rate is 49% lower than the Nevada average.

Boulder City Population: 16,048 182 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 548 Total Crimes / 100k: 899

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Boulder City, NV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nevada with a violent crime rate of 182 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.50 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 548 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Mesquite Population: 19,087 123 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 812 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,129

Rounding out our list at #10 is Mesquite, NV. With a population of 19,087 and a violent crime rate of 123 per 100,000 people (69% lower than the Nevada average), some parts of Mesquite are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 72 counts of assault, 13 counts of robbery, 38 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 812 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Nevada

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Winnemucca	7,752	694	2,020
2	Reno	250,903	530	2,975
3	Las Vegas	644,594	430	3,053
4	Elko	20,396	398	1,836
5	Sparks	102,895	394	2,978
6	North Las Vegas	247,248	389	2,350
7	Henderson	309,955	272	1,987
8	Fallon	8,540	207	1,356
9	Boulder City	16,048	182	899
10	Mesquite	19,087	123	1,129

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Nevada is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Nevada cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.