Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Hobbs, NM has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,544.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,814 of 2,971 US cities and #10 of 14 in New Mexico.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Hobbs, New Mexico Safe?
Hobbs, New Mexico, a city founded on the oil industry, sits in the southeastern corner of the state, near the Texas border. It's the largest community in Lea County, with a diverse, growing population.
Hobbs has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,544.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Hobbs ranks #10 out of 14 cities in New Mexico and #2814 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Hobbs is murder, at 20.5 per 100K — 3.3x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Hobbs's total crime rate decreased by 22.4%, with violent crime declining 10.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hobbs Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 309 | 792.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 8 | 20.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 26 | 66.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 20 | 51.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 254 | 651.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,462 | 3,751.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 339 | 869.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 979 | 2,512.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 144 | 369.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Hobbs vs New Mexico Average
How does Hobbs's crime rate compare to the New Mexico state average?
| Metric | Hobbs | New Mexico Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 792.9 | 968.4 | -18.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,751.4 | 4,110.2 | -8.7% |
| Murder Rate | 20.5 | 14.0 | +47.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,544.3 | 5,078.6 | -10.5% |
Hobbs Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Hobbs, New Mexico.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38,972 | 4,544.3 | 792.9 | 3,751.4 |
| 2023 | 39,155 | 5,853.7 | 886.2 | 4,967.4 |
| 2022 | 38,912 | 5,787.4 | 953.4 | 4,834.0 |
| 2021 | 39,924 | 4,681.4 | 824.1 | 3,857.3 |
| 2020 | 39,751 | 4,960.9 | 689.3 | 4,271.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hobbs, New Mexico safe?
Hobbs has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,544.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Hobbs is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Hobbs, New Mexico?
According to FBI data for 2024, Hobbs has a violent crime rate of 792.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,751.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Hobbs compare to the national average?
Hobbs's total crime rate of 4,544.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 38,972 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Hobbs?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Hobbs include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Hobbs safe to visit?
Like any city, Hobbs has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.