Historic town where thousands once flocked for famous wine festival is named America’s most dangerous suburb
A historic Southwestern city once known for its wine festival and spectacular sunsets has been named America’s most dangerous suburb by a new study.
Bernalillo, New Mexico, founded as a center for trade and agriculture during the Spanish colonial period, was given the unwanted title by Smart assets while it struggles with sky-high crime rates and excessive alcohol consumption.
The personal finance website ranked 360 satellite cities to help house hunters find the best neighborhood, with safety a top consideration for many families looking for their dream home in the suburbs.
Bernalillo, about 15 miles north of Albuquerque, scored particularly low for violent and property crime.
Using data from the FBI and neighborhoodscout.com, SmartAsset found that the town of about 9,000 has a violent crime rate more than three times higher than the other 360 suburbs included in the study.
The city of Bernalillo, nestled against the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico, is the most dangerous suburb in the United States, according to a new study from personal finance website SmartAsset.
The per capita property crime rate was nearly twice as high as the next highest city, Capitola, California.
The rankings also took into account traffic fatalities, adult alcohol abuse and drug poisonings, according to County Health Rankings.
The report defined a suburb as a community within a 15 to 45-minute drive of one of America’s 100 largest cities and with a population of at least 5,000.
According to SmartAsset’s analysis, the safest suburbs are primarily found in the Mountain West, Midwest and East Coast, while the most dangerous areas are primarily in the South.
The five worst suburbs were: Lumberton, North Carolina; Scottsburg, Indiana; Petersburg, Virginia; and Asheboro, North Carolina.
New Mexico has long struggled with high crime. In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes per 100,000 people was 781, compared to the U.S. average of 381, according to FBI data.
The same goes for property crimes, where the average crime rate in the state is nearly 3,000, compared to the national average of around 2,000.
The city of Albuquerque has recognized the problem and added $13 million to its police budget this year.
However, a recent report from the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee found that the city’s police department “does not effectively deter or solve crime.”
The problem appears to have spread to the suburbs, where neighborhoods like Bernalillo are struggling with rising crime.
Bernalillo is the historic center of New Mexico, with an occupation that dates back almost a thousand years. The historic railroad depot is a remarkable cultural landmark
This year it was named one of the seven “most charming river towns” in the state by WorldAtlas.com, with the “iconic” Our Lady of Sorrows Church named as a top attraction
Home prices in Bernalillo have fallen by a quarter in the past year to under $300,000. But the history and scenery still attract wealthy homebuyers, with this luxury 3-bedroom currently listed for almost $2 million.
But the city may have even more to offer, given its history and impressive surroundings.
Bernalillo is located on the northwestern slope of the Sandia Mountains and borders the state’s largest river, the Rio Grande.
It is the historic center of New Mexico and its habitation dates back nearly a thousand years.
This year, the town was named one of the seven “most charming river towns” in the state by WorldAtlas.com. The “iconic” Our Lady of Sorrows Church and the historic railroad depot were cited as notable cultural attractions.
For 27 years, the famous New Mexico Wine Festival was held here during Labor Day weekend.
However, the event was cancelled in 2014 due to declining visitor numbers.
Every year in August, the Las Fiestas de San Lorenzo, a celebration of the Mexican Matachines dance, are held here.
Despite the city’s cultural appeal, high crime rates appear to be having a negative impact on the local housing market.
According to real estate website RedFin, the average sales price of a home fell below $300,000 last month, down nearly a quarter from the same period last year.
The FBI crime figures for Bernalillo only go back to 2020. SmartAsset bases its report on recent data from neighborhoodscout.com.
Lumberton, NC, is the second most dangerous suburb in the US, according to SmartAsset
The rankings took into account violent and property crime rates, as well as traffic fatalities and drug intoxications from County Health Rankings. Petersburg, Virginia (pictured) was ranked the fourth most dangerous city
The website, which analyzes crime and safety data from communities across the U.S., found that Bernalillo ranks among the top 10 percent most dangerous cities in the country.
According to police, the chance of becoming a victim of violent or property crime in Bernalillo is 1 in 33, one of the highest chances in the country.
Even in crime-ridden New Mexico, the crime rate is higher than 87 percent of the other cities and towns in the state.
DailyMail.com reached out to the city’s mayor, Jack Torres, and police chief, Chris Stoyell, for comment.
SmartAsset has named Lehi, Utah, the safest suburb in the U.S. The neighborhood, located about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, has the lowest rate of excessive drinking and low rates of violent and property crime.
The other safest suburbs were: Bethesda, Maryland; Layton, Utah; Rockville, Maryland; and Great Falls, Virginia.