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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Elko, NV has a Safety Score of 46/100 — higher crime than 54% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,836.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,607 of 2,957 US cities and #3 of 8 in Nevada.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Elko, NV?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Elko, Nevada Safe?
Elko, a high desert city in northeastern Nevada, is known as the "Heart of Northeast Nevada" and for hosting the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Its economy has historical ties to ranching and gold mining.
Elko has a safety score of 46/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,836.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Elko ranks #3 out of 8 cities in Nevada and #1607 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 46th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 54% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Elko is rape, at 91.1 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Elko's total crime rate decreased by 17.3%, with violent crime declining 24.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Elko Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 83 | 397.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 9.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 19 | 91.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 4 | 19.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 58 | 278.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 300 | 1,438.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 57 | 273.2 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 201 | 963.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 42 | 201.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Elko vs Nevada Average
How does Elko's crime rate compare to the Nevada state average?
| Metric | Elko | Nevada Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 397.9 | 410.9 | -3.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,438.1 | 2,390.5 | -39.8% |
| Murder Rate | 9.6 | 6.4 | +50.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,836.0 | 2,801.4 | -34.5% |
Elko Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Elko, Nevada.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,861 | 1,836.0 | 397.9 | 1,438.1 |
| 2023 | 20,854 | 2,220.2 | 527.5 | 1,692.7 |
| 2022 | 20,664 | 2,390.6 | 464.6 | 1,926.1 |
| 2021 | 20,760 | 3,256.3 | 438.3 | 2,817.9 |
| 2020 | 20,697 | 3,420.8 | 478.3 | 2,942.5 |
| 2019 | 20,601 | 2,907.6 | 334.9 | 2,572.7 |
Elko Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Elko and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Nevada crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elko, Nevada safe?
Elko has a safety score of 46/100, meaning it has less crime than about 46% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,836.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Elko is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Elko, Nevada?
According to FBI data for 2024, Elko has a violent crime rate of 397.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,438.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Elko compare to the national average?
Elko's total crime rate of 1,836.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 20,861 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Elko?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Elko are larceny-theft (201 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (58 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.6x in the city.
Is Elko safe to visit?
Like any city, Elko has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 46/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.