Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Sparks, NV has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,979.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,385 of 2,971 US cities and #7 of 8 in Nevada.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sparks, Nevada Safe?
Sparks, Nevada, a city east of Reno, was once known as "The Crossroads of the West" due to its railroad heritage. With a population exceeding 100,000, it's a significant part of the Truckee Meadows region.
Sparks has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,979.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Sparks ranks #7 out of 8 cities in Nevada and #2385 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Sparks is rape, at 83.9 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Sparks's total crime rate increased by 12.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sparks Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 438 | 395.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 93 | 83.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 62 | 56.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 277 | 250.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,863 | 2,583.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 334 | 301.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,177 | 1,964.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 352 | 317.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sparks vs Nevada Average
How does Sparks's crime rate compare to the Nevada state average?
| Metric | Sparks | Nevada Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 395.3 | 410.9 | -3.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,583.8 | 2,390.5 | +8.1% |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 6.4 | -29.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,979.1 | 2,801.4 | +6.3% |
Sparks Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sparks, Nevada.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 110,807 | 2,979.1 | 395.3 | 2,583.8 |
| 2023 | 109,403 | 2,656.2 | 392.1 | 2,264.1 |
| 2022 | 110,475 | 2,434.0 | 419.1 | 2,014.9 |
| 2021 | 108,612 | 2,775.0 | 438.3 | 2,336.8 |
| 2020 | 106,664 | 2,389.8 | 420.0 | 1,969.7 |
| 2019 | 106,010 | 2,713.0 | 424.5 | 2,288.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sparks, Nevada safe?
Sparks has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,979.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Sparks is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Sparks, Nevada?
According to FBI data for 2024, Sparks has a violent crime rate of 395.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,583.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sparks compare to the national average?
Sparks's total crime rate of 2,979.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 110,807 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sparks?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Sparks include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Sparks safe to visit?
Like any city, Sparks has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.