- DOCUMENTATION & SOURCES
Crime and Safety:
** A Google Search for: New Mexico’s National Ranking for Violent Crime-
This is how the world sees us:
AI Overview-
Based on early 2026 data,
New Mexico consistently ranks among the top three states in the US for violent crime, often cited as having the 2nd or 3rd highest violent crime rate nationwide.
** US NEWS Magazine – New Mexico is ranked consistently high for Violent Crimes.
**US News & World Report reports that New Mexico is the most dangerous state in America.
** Newsweek Magazine – New Mexico topped the list of states by reported crime rate, more than double the rate of the bottom 11 states.
Simmons Law Firm Report: https://www.simmrinlawgroup.com/
10 Most Dangerous States in America reads:
Unfortunately, leading as the state with the greatest concern of crime-related dangers, New Mexico presents a challenging landscape with the highest assault offense rate.
**Safe Home. Org:
Their safety report states the following:
“New Mexico leads the nation with the highest home burglary rate.”
*As the nation’s most violent state, New Mexico’s violent crime rate was more than seven times that of Maine, the least violent state in the union.
*New Mexico has 3rd Highest Murder rate–
*New Mexico has the Highest property Crime rate
*New Mexico has the highest Larceny rate–
*New Mexico’s burglary rate is more than twice the National average.
**NEWSWEEK AUG 14-2025
*New Mexico was found to have the highest assault rate of any state, with 162.10 assaults per 100,000 people.
*The homicide rate in New Mexico was reported to be at 1.22 per 100,000 people per month, 2.1 times higher than the national average.
*The state also has the greatest number of cyclist and pedestrian deaths with 4.83 per 100,000 every year.
Drug Use and Health:
** New Mexico’s INM-IBIS— New Mexico’s own primary source for data and information on our public health issues: States that New Mexico has the highest drug-induced death rate in the nation.
** WalletHub.com: Has ranked New Mexico as having the highest per capita drug use in America
** The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked New Mexico as the state with the highest rate of congenital syphilis
**New Mexico pediatric health care ranks nationally at 51st - in Last Place
** Children’s State Rank State Value U.S. Social & Economic Factors : New Mexico Ranks 50th
**Social Support and Engagement Adverse Childhood Experiences *New Mexico Ranks 50th
*Economic Resources Concentrated Disadvantage * New Mexico Ranks 50th
Other National Rankings:
GOOGLE AI Search results for: “The most dangerous state in America”:
AI Overview:
Yes, New Mexico is widely considered one of the most dangerous states in the U.S., consistently ranking at or near the top for violent crime rates.
** Albuquerque, NM KRQE TV Reported:
New study ranks New Mexico as the Worst State to Live In.
**Child Drug Exposure: sfnewmexican.com Esteban Candelaria Jul 5, 2025
**The state faces one of the highest rates of child drug exposure in the nation, including prenatal exposure, according to the state Department of Health.
**New Mexico is the most dependent state upon federal government support
** Albuquerque, NM KOAT TV 7 – Updated: 12:30 PM MDT Mar 31, 2025
Wallet Hub Report:
* New Mexico is the most stressed state in the U.S., according to WalletHub’s latest study. It states that one of the primary reasons New Mexico ranks so high in stress is its high crime rate.
The state has the highest violent and property crime rates per capita, which creates constant safety concerns for residents.
** Financial stress is also a significant concern, with New Mexico having the third-highest poverty rate in the country.
** USA FACT.ORG States:
The property crime rate in New Mexico was 2,751 per 100,000 people, the highest in the country.
New Mexico ranked highest among states for high property crime rates (2,751 offenses per 100,000 people)
** GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS:
There is no single “least desirable” state, as preferences vary, but various studies in 2024 and 2025 consistently rank New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi among the lowest overall for livability, citing issues such as poverty, poor education, high crime rates, and unhealthy populations.
**Key Findings: By Queonda Magazine – Houston, Texas,
Top Five Most Dangerous States: New Mexico, Washington, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oregon.
*** Excerpt from Reolink — A National Real Estate Business Website
Asked: Is New Mexico Dangerous? Yes, New Mexico has higher crime rates. It makes it more dangerous than other states, with crime rates almost twice the national average.
Education:
** CIBOLA CITIZEN – SANTA FE, N.M. – For the ninth year in a row, New Mexico has ranked 50th out of 50 in education.
** KOAT – According to a recent study:
New Mexico has ranked 50th in education nationwide.
** GOOGLE Search Results For – States That Often Rank Poorly:
New Mexico consistently ranks low in public education, plagued by high dropout rates and low testscores.
**NM Educational Ranking for 2025 by Wallet Hub: LAST PLACE
**New Mexico’s education ranking has been at the bottom for the ninth year in a row, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card.
**Educational expenditures per student: $15,950.
NM ranks 5th among instructional staff in salaries, 6th in teacher salaries, and 6th in state expenditures.
**Sixteen states spend less money per student and are ranked much higher.
**School Rankings- How far behind is New Mexico in Education?
America’s Average Score in Education is twice as good as our State’s score—
The number one ranking State is triple our State’s score-
** How much does New Mexico spend on education?
New Mexico’s approved budget for FY25 allocated approximately $4.7 billion to K-12 public education, which constitutes about 47% of the state’s total budget.
**For many years, New Mexico has consistently ranked second-to-last in education, just behind Mississippi.
In fact, for decades, our motto was: “Thank God for Mississippi.”
Now they are far ahead of us.
Mississippi’s Quality Counts ranking for K-12 achievement has now risen from 50th in 2013 to 34th in 2021. To 16th place in 2025
And in 2025
While New Mexico Still Remains in Last Place.
** A January 29, 2025 MEMORANDUM TO: Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, District Test Coordinators:
FROM: Mariana D. Padilla, Secretary Designate of Public Education
RE: 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) State-Level Results Released
NCES reports the following results for the 2024 state NAEP administration:
23% of 4th graders scored proficient or above in math.
14% of 8th graders scored proficient or above in math.
20% oof 4th graders scored proficient or above in reading.
14% of 8th graders scored proficient or above in math.
19% of 8th graders scored proficient or above in reading.
- Indicating that 80% of eighth graders in New Mexico cannot read or perform math at the expected 8th grade level.
Sadly, all of the above are documented facts.
If you think we all deserve improvements in the quality of life, then please help us:
Make New Mexico Better