The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in Nevada

Best and Worst Cities for Property or Violent Crime in Nevada

Highest Violent Crime Rates

Violent crime includes murder, rape, assault, and robbery. Winnemucca scores highest for occurrences of violent crime in Nevada at 644 incidents per 100,000 residents. Despite this statistic, it is deemed the “Friendliest Town in Nevada.”¹ It’s well known for its Basque cuisine, cowboy culture, and the Winnemucca Sand Dunes.

Its population is just over 8,000, and it has remained stagnant around that number for the last couple of decades.² A massive lithium mining operation is under construction near the town and is planning to open in late 2027.³ This will drive population growth in a city that already has limited housing availability. There has been concern by the city about the increased presence of construction workers throughout town, contributing to an increase in crime. With Nevada being a 24/7 state, bars are typically open all night, and the increase of workers patronizing local businesses can increase the potential for altercations.

Reno comes in second for the highest violent crime rates in Nevada, at 596 per 100,000 people. With a population just under 275,000, the “Biggest Little City in the World” is a blend of outdoor recreation and quintessential Nevada style with lively casinos amongst desert landscapes. Nearby, Lake Tahoe is a major attraction in all four seasons with world-class skiing and incredible scenery.

Violent crime in Reno has remained high for the past decade in comparison to national or state averages. The majority of violent crimes reported involve aggravated assault and domestic violence. Reno is a 24-hour city; having people out at all hours of the night will naturally lead to a higher likelihood of crime occurrence. Casinos, alcohol, and drug use can all play an active role in driving up crime. Reno also has some of the highest property crime rates in the state (as mentioned below).

Highest Property Crime Rates

Las Vegas tops the list at 3,082 incidents of property crime, like larceny and motor vehicle theft, per 100,000 people. Besides its high crime rate, Sin City is world-famous for its entertainment. Millions of visitors flock to Las Vegas every year, hoping to hit a lucky streak. World-class casinos, hotels, shows, sports teams, and restaurants attract travelers of all kinds. Since Las Vegas is such a hot spot for tourists, crime naturally increases. However, being a mecca for celebration, tourism tends to double the amount of crime compared to a city with similar tourist attractions.

Reno came in second at 2,639 crimes per 100,000 people. Unfortunately, Reno is high for both property and violent crime. As mentioned above, many businesses in Reno are open all day and night. This level of activity, combined with plenty of opportunities for gambling and drinking, will naturally lead to a higher likelihood of crime occurrence.

Lowest Violent Crime Rates

Fallon came in at the lowest for violent crime at 137 incidents per 100,000 people in a year. Its population is just under 10,000. Surrounded by the Nevada desert, Fallon is a remote town with a lot of outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing, or ATV adventures out at the nearby sand dunes. Fallon consists mostly of desert flats and farmland in western Nevada. It’s the kind of place for raising a family and getting to know your neighbors. Fallon lacks the allure of thousands of tourists looking to party; tourists seeking out the town are more likely to be looking for outdoor adventure. This mix of having a family-friendly city and a low number of tourists results in the lowest violent crime rate in the state.

Just 20 miles away from the famous Hoover Dam, Boulder City comes in second for the lowest amount of violent crime in Nevada, at 175 per 100,000 people. Although it is close to major tourist attractions, Boulder City remains a tight-knit community dedicated to maintaining nice neighborhoods. The city has a median age of 52 years old, and there is a high homeownership rate of 75 percent.⁴ Retirees, in particular, seek out Boulder City for its mild weather.

Lowest Property Crime Rates

Boulder City also topped the list for lowest property crime rates at 887 crimes per 100,000 people. The city’s age demographic of older citizens generally correlates with fewer crimes committed. Retirees are common in Boulder City due to its climate and accessibility to larger cities and healthcare.

Lovelock came in second for lowest property crime at 973 per 100,000 people. It is a town of less than 2,000 people between Winnemucca and Reno along Interstate 80. It’s a great stopping place for gas and wandering around between towns. Tourists stop by the courthouse plaza to “lock their love” with padlocks along the posts surrounding a rose garden.⁵ Lovelock has a strong economy, with agriculture and mining being the main industries. It’s a community of families and small-town friendly folks who respect each other's property.

Statewide Crime Trends Analysis

Most of Nevada is sparsely populated. Las Vegas and Reno account for the majority of the population. About 86 percent of people living in Nevada live in Clark or Washoe County (where Las Vegas and Reno are located).⁶ The state continues to gain new residents every year. From July 2023 to July 2024, there was a 1.7 percent increase, ranking it sixth in the U.S. for percentage of growth.⁷ It’s interesting that despite Nevada’s low population in the majority of the state, it ranks 14th for violent crime and sixth for property crime in the nation. Contributing factors like major tourism in Las Vegas or all-night trends in bars and casinos seem to impact these numbers significantly. Increased presence of methamphetamine or other illicit drug use seems to affect these numbers as well.

The violent crime rate in Nevada is 417 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 15 percent above the national average. However, violent crime decreased by about 8 percent in a year. Violent crime is significantly higher in Nevada than the national average. Murder is 19.3 percent higher than the national average, while robbery is 7.8 percent and aggravated assault is 9.3 percent higher than the national averages.

Property crime is at 2,517 per 100,000, making it 31 percent above the national average. That figure also places Nevada at a nearly six-percent year-over-year increase in property crime.

For property crime, burglary came in at 400.6 per 100,000 people, which is a whopping 59.8 percent above the national average, and larceny at 6.7 percent above the national average. Vehicle theft is also common at 679.3 per 100,000 people, an incredible 113.1 percent above the national average.

A modest approach to crime reform was passed in 2019. Assembly bills passed allowed softer sentencing for individuals in an effort to encourage reform instead of imprisonment. Some blame this reform for increased crime, but it’s a combination of many factors. The current administration looks to make changes in an effort to thwart some of these reforms and “put teeth back into Nevada’s penal code.”⁸

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5), and for city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.

Important note: Crime statistics offer valuable insights, but they aren’t the only way to evaluate a community’s safety. Local context, law enforcement practices, and reporting standards can all influence how crime is recorded. Additionally, FBI publication tables and the data displayed on the Crime Data Explorer may differ slightly due to variations in methodology.