Valencia County, located in the U.S. state of New Mexico, had a population of 76,205 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area and was known for accurately predicting presidential election winners until 2020.
However, there are areas in Valencia County that are considered less safe for both residents and visitors. Based on crime data from the U.S. Census Bureau and CrimeGrade.org, here are the top five most dangerous neighborhoods in Valencia County, New Mexico:
Belen: Belen is a city within Valencia County, with a population of 7,038 as of the 2020 census. It is the second-largest city in the county after Los Lunas. Belen has the highest rate of violent crime in the county, with 2,029.9 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019.
This is over four times higher than the national average of 366.7 incidents per 100,000 residents. Additionally, Belen also has the highest rate of property crime in the county, with 5,243.9 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. This is more than double the national average of 2,109.9 incidents per 100,000 residents.
Los Lunas
Los Lunas, located in Valencia County, serves as the county seat. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,378. It is the largest and fastest-growing community in the county.
In 2019, Los Lunas had the second-highest rate of violent crime in the county, with 1,287 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is more than three times the national average of 366.7 per 100,000 residents.
Additionally, it also had the second-highest rate of property crime in the county, with 4,074.3 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. This is nearly twice the national average of 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.
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Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake, situated in Valencia County, is a census-designated place (CDP) with a population of 4,832 according to the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern part of the county, near the border with Torrance County.
In 2019, Meadow Lake had the third-highest rate of violent crime in the county, with 1,131.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is more than three times the national average of 366.7 per 100,000 residents.
Additionally, Meadow Lake also experienced the third-highest rate of property crime in the county in 2019, with 3,987.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is almost double the national average of 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.
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El Cerro Mission
El Cerro Mission, located in Valencia County, had a population of 5,254 according to the 2020 census. Situated in the northern part of the county near the border with Bernalillo County, El Cerro Mission experiences the fourth-highest rate of violent crime in the county, with 1,028.6 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019.
This is nearly three times higher than the national average of 366.7 per 100,000 residents. Additionally, El Cerro Mission has the fourth-highest rate of property crime in the county, with 3,214.6 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. This is over 1.5 times higher than the national average of 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.
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Jarales
Jarales, located in Valencia County, had a population of 2,475 according to the 2020 census. Situated in the southern part of the county, it is near the border with Socorro County. In 2019, Jarales had the fifth-highest rate of violent crime in the county, with 971.5 incidents per 100,000 residents.
This is more than 2.5 times the national average of 366.7 per 100,000 residents. Additionally, Jarales had the fifth-highest rate of property crime in the county, with 3,030.3 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. This is more than 1.5 times the national average of 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.
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Conclusion
Here are the top five riskiest neighborhoods in Valencia County, New Mexico, according to the provided crime statistics. Nevertheless, it’s crucial for both residents and visitors to remain aware, alert, and careful when navigating or residing in these regions, as crime rates may fluctuate annually and within specific blocks.
