Is Reno Safe To Visit? (Crime Rates And Crime Stats)


Reno is a city in Nevada located at about 5,000 feet above sea level. It has become a common tourist spot for its proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountains and the access to casinos. Reno offers activities like gaming, family entertainment, outdoor events, festivals, museums, and more.

Visiting Reno safely is all about gaining the knowledge and proper planning beforehand. Traveling smart and staying informed about the current atmosphere and potential dangers of Reno will ease your mind for a safe and fulfilling discovery of the city.

is reno safe

Reno is the second most visited city in Nevada, so this alone goes to show it is a place desired to visit by many, and the potential dangers of visiting don’t hold people back. Especially, the location of the city just an hour away from the famous Lake Tahoe. It ranks medium to low on the crime and safety scale when compared to other cities of its size.

As with most places, walking around in the day time is generally safe. Walking around in the dark tends to present more potential dangers. It is best to do all exploring and tourist activities during the day and keep the walking around in the dark to a minimum.

Is Reno safe?

Reno is a safe city as indicated by its crime rates, which hovers aboves the national average. In 2020, Reno had a violent crime rate of 561.97 per 100,000 residents, which is 41% higher than the national average and its property crime rate of 2,217.59 per 100,000 residents is on par with the national average.

The national average for violent crime is 366.7 per 100,000 residents and the national average for property crime is 2,109.9 per 100,000 residents.

Reno crime rate is similar to cities like Chula Vista, Honolulu and Fremont. Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Reno’s crime rate:

reno crime rate

Reno Crime Rates And Crime Stats

The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Reno PD and are for 2019 and 2020:

Reno police reported a total of 6,974 offenses in 2020, compared with 7,197 in 2019, which is a 3 percent year-over-year decrease.

2019

2020

% Change

Murder

12

17

42%

Rape

180

281

56%

Robbery

312

286

-8%

Aggravated Assault

927

826

-11%

Violent Offense Total

1,431

1,410

-1%

Burglary

903

1105

22%

Larceny/Theft

3,679

3,486

-5%

Motor Vehicle Theft

1,184

973

-18%

Property Offense Total

5,766

5,564

-4%

Total Index Offenses

7,197

6,974

-3%

Violent Crime Rate

In 2020 Reno reported 1,410 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 561.97 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.

Year over year violent crime has decreased 1%.

You have a 1 in 178 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Reno.

Property Crime Rate

In 2020 Reno reported 5,564 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,217.59 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Year over year property crime has decreased 4%.

You have a 1 in 45 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Reno.

Murder Rate

In 2020 Reno reported 17 murders and had a murder rate of 6.78 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Year over year murders has increased 42%.

You have a 1 in 14,759 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Reno.

Reno’s crime rate vs other cities in Nevada (2020)

Here’e how Las Vegas’ violent crime rate compared to other cities in Nevada.

Cities

Population

Violent Crime Rate (2020)

Reno

250,903

561.97

Las Vegas

641,903

545.47

North Las Vegas

262,527

509.28

Sparks

108,445

411.27

Carson City

58,639

368.36

Henderson

317,610

214.73

Reno’s Crime Rate Comparison

Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Reno’s violent crime rate is more than 5 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.

City

Population

Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 people

Monroe

47,702

2,932.79

Memphis

633,104

2,418.24

Atlantic City

38,497

2,335.25

Saginaw

44,202

2,327.95

Detroit

639,111

2,248.44

St. Louis

301,578

1,995.17

Alexandria

45,275

1,877.42

Pine Bluff

41,253

1,808.35

Little Rock

202,591

1,805.11

Milwaukee

577,222

1,733.13

South Bend

103,453

1,706.09

Cleveland

372,624

1,689.10

Camden

71,791

1,632.52

Birmingham

200,733

1,577.22

Kansas City

508,090

1,558.58

Baltimore

585,708

1,460.11

Albuquerque

564,559

1,406.41

Chattanooga

181,099

1,382.67

San Bernardino

222,101

1,365.59

New Orleans

383,997

1,358.08

Oakland

440,646

1,347.34

Reno

250,903

561.97

is reno safe

Areas to Avoid in Reno

This Judgemental Map of Reno is funny but accurate.

judgemental map reno

Is Reno Safe At Night?

It is highly recommended that night time activity is kept to a minimum, especially in the downtown area. There is plenty to do and see during the day. This isn’t to say going out at night will result in something bad happening, but the risk is higher. Typically, the casino areas tend to get rowdier at night and can increase the likelihood of running into trouble.

Is It Safe To Visit Alone?

Reno is safe to visit alone when you familiarize yourself with the area and are aware of the areas and neighborhoods to avoid. Many people pass through Reno alone regularly. As with any place, traveling alone will always have its risks. It’s being fully prepared in a potentially dangerous scenario.

Is It Safe As A Woman To Visit

As a woman, there is going to be some extra caution taken into account. However, preparation will always be key. This pertains to traveling anywhere alone, as a woman. Always let your close friends and family know your whereabouts and have a cell phone handy in case of emergency.

What do residents of Reno say about it’s safety?

  1. "Renos a very tourist friendly city. There’s really no place I can say to avoid in Reno."
  2. "There are some rough patches here and there, but those are areas you really have to go out of your way to find. They are not places a tourist would want to visit anyways."
  3. "Avoid Sun Valley, and the area around Sutro which is just north east of down town."

Safety Tips While Staying At A Hotel

More times than not, hotel staff are going to put the security and safety of their visitors at the highest priority. There is a range of lodging options in Reno, but no matter where you stay, these are some basics to keep in mind.

  • Request a room that is not on the ground floor- Ground floors have more of a chance to get broken into
  • Make sure the lock and room key system works
  • Always keep your luggage nearby.
  • Never share your lodging information
  • Lock valuables in safe
  • Only share your location and room with family and trusted friends
  • Make sure not to leave any credit card information out

Things to remember while visiting Reno:

  • Always park in a designated parking lot
  • Be sure to lock the doors
  • Don’t travel with valuables
  • Always have a firm grip on purse or bags
  • Never share lodging information with a stranger
  • Avoid low lite areas
  • Avoid altercations

Final thoughts on the safety of Reno

Before visiting a new place, taking the time to learn about the area and all its potential dangers is going to ensure the best experience.

Reno is a highly touristy area that has an array of entertainment, gaming, and outdoor adventures to offer visitors.

Although there are dangers and a variety of crimes in Reno, this is the reality of visiting many places.

Always use common sense, keep a close eye on your belongings, be aware of your surroundings, and always lock up when you leave your hotel or car.

Mariska Lee

Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit. She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since.

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