The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Sierra County, NM: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Sierra County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Sierra County.

 

Sierra County, NM Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

D-

Overall Crime Grade™

F
D
Other Crime Grade
D

$11.1 million

Cost of Crime™ for Sierra County, NM

In 2025, crime will cost $1,945 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Sierra County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Sierra County, NM Safe?

The D- grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US county. Sierra County ranks in the 15th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 15% of counties but less safe than 85%. This analysis applies only to Sierra County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Sierra County is 47.66 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Sierra County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Sierra County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 13 in the north areas to 1 in 32 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Sierra County, NM see the most incidents - about 303 per year. In contrast, the southeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 3 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Sierra County, NM

The total projected cost of crime in Sierra County for 2025 is $11,093,987. This translates to approximately $910 per resident and $1,945 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 3.7% of the median household income in Sierra County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 50.6%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 37.4%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Sierra County Compared to Other Counties?

Sierra County, NM: $910
Santa Fe County, NM: $1003
Sandoval County, NM: $541
New Mexico: $835
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Sierra County is $910 per year, which is $446 more than the national average and $76 more than New Mexico's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Sierra County:
  • In Santa Fe County, NM, crime costs $1,003 per person, which is $93 more than in Sierra County.
  • In Sandoval County, NM, crime costs $541 per person, which is $369 less than in Sierra County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Sierra County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Sierra County
Cost per Sierra County Resident
Murder
$3.91 million
$321
Rape/Sexual Assault
$753,258
$62
Robbery
$432,729
$36
Assault
$2.28 million
$187
Kidnapping
$192,266
$16
Vehicle Theft
$632,922
$52
Burglary
$620,648
$51
Theft
$976,091
$80
Arson
$58,325
$5
Vandalism
$765,025
$63
Animal Cruelty
$5,921
$0
Drug Crimes
$405,617
$33
Identity Theft
$53,797
$4
Total Cost of Crime
$11,093,987
$910

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Sierra County, NM

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Sierra County totals $30,322,778 ($2,489 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $41,416,765 ($3,399 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Sierra County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Sierra County has 9, have the same problem. Of Sierra County’s 12,185 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Sierra County, NM at ISP Reports.

Sierra County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Sierra County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
6.523
Robbery
1.129
Rape
1.020
Murder
0.1710
Total Violent Crime
8.843 (F)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
15.47
Vehicle Theft
3.354
Burglary
5.616
Arson
0.1982
Total Property Crime
24.64 (D)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2602
Drug Crimes
4.500
Vandalism
8.788
Identity Theft
0.5704
Animal Cruelty
0.0657
Total "Other" Rate
14.18 (D)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Sierra County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Sierra County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
D
D-
D
D+
D
C-
D+
D-
C
D+
F
D+
B-
C-
C+
C-
D+
C-
C
D+
C+
A
B-
A-
D-
D
D-
D-
C-
D

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Sierra County is similar versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
C+
B
B
A
C
C
C
C
C
D
D
D
F
F
F
F
F
F
D
D-
D-
A-
C+
C+
F
F
F
A
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Sierra County is as safe as the New Mexico state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Sierra County, NM average SchoolGrade of N/A, with N/A% actual proficiency versus 29% projected; overall, schools N/A. See Sierra County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 15 hours 4 minutes in Sierra County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Sierra County, NM

All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.