Sierra County Crime & Safety

Sierra County, New Mexico

Safety Score

36/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

1486.2

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

226.0

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

1260.2

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

36/100

Higher = safer

State avg 45/100

State Safety Rank

#18

of 32 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Sierra County, New Mexico

Sierra County remains safer than national average

Sierra County earns a safety score of 97.7, reflecting a total crime rate of 1,486.2 per 100,000 residents. This is notably lower than the national total crime rate of 2,385.5.

Exceeding state safety benchmarks

The county's safety score of 97.7 is slightly higher than the New Mexico average of 97.4. Its total crime rate of 1,486.2 also beats the state average of 1,638.5.

Comparing Sierra to Socorro County

Sierra's crime rate of 1,486.2 is higher than Socorro County's 850.9. However, it remains much safer than Valencia County, which sees over 3,000 incidents per 100K.

Theft outpaces violent crime

The violent crime rate is 226.0 per 100K, while property crime is much higher at 1,260.2. This indicates that property-related offenses are the main driver of crime in the area.

Secure your property in Sierra

Since property crime is the most frequent issue, focus on securing outbuildings and main residences. Simple preventative measures can greatly reduce the risk of theft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Sierra County, NM?

Sierra County has a total crime rate of 1486.2 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (226.0 per 100K) and property crimes (1260.2 per 100K).

Is Sierra County, NM safe?

Sierra County has a safety score of 36/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #18 out of 32 counties in New Mexico for safety (1 = safest).

How does Sierra County crime compare to the New Mexico average?

The county's safety score of 97.7 is slightly higher than the New Mexico average of 97.4. Its total crime rate of 1,486.2 also beats the state average of 1,638.5.

What types of crime are most common in Sierra County?

The violent crime rate is 226.0 per 100K, while property crime is much higher at 1,260.2. This indicates that property-related offenses are the main driver of crime in the area.

How is crime data measured and reported for Sierra County?

Crime data for Sierra County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

What is being done about crime in Sierra County?

Sierra County has a safety score of 36/100, which is below the New Mexico average of 45/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.