Albuquerque Crime Scores Explained: What Bernalillo Records Show
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · September 20, 2026
Bernalillo County shows substantial divergence in police incident rates between foothills neighborhoods and central corridors. We examine Albuquerque ZIP codes through documented crime data and safety scores.
Albuquerque accounts for roughly one third of New Mexico's total population. Police reports released by the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff show marked differences in crime incident frequency across different elevations and neighborhoods.
Bernalillo County safety scores by ZIP code
Scores are evaluated relative to New Mexico state norms. Incident filings come from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, and housing values come from county deed files.
- High Desert and Sandia Heights (87122): Scores 50 overall with a 25 crime score and a 79 school score. Median home price reaches $753,576 with median rent of $2,156.
- Northeast Heights (87111): Scores 44 overall with a 25 crime score and a 66 school score. Median home price is $421,432 with median rent of $1,486.
- University and Nob Hill (87106): Scores 42 overall with a 25 crime score and a 61 school score. Median property price is $370,334 with median rent of $1,340.
- Academy and Del Norte (87109): Scores 42 overall with a 25 crime score and a 61 school score. Median home price sits at $378,932 with median rent of $1,402.
- North Valley and Paradise Hills (87114): Scores 40 overall with a 25 crime score and a 57 school score. Median home price is $375,264.
Understanding incident distribution in Albuquerque
Property offenses represent the bulk of recorded incidents across the city. Retail corridors along Central Avenue and Montgomery Boulevard account for elevated calls, whereas residential streets along the Sandia Mountain base see far fewer reported offenses, a pattern consistent with U.S. Census Bureau income data.
Evaluating Albuquerque neighborhoods
Movers can consult our neighborhood research guide or compare Albuquerque communities on our Albuquerque compare tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Albuquerque ZIP code has the lowest crime incident rate?
Sandia Heights and High Desert ZIP 87122 records the lowest incident rates in the metro, paired with a 79 school score and a 50 overall rating.
How do central Albuquerque crime scores compare to the foothills?
Central ZIPs like 87106 record higher incident counts in commercial corridors, whereas outer foothills ZIPs like 87122 and 87111 show lower activity.