Best Neighborhoods in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada: Between the glamorous casinos, the scintillating entertainment, and the glow of neon signs, there’s little wonder it’s called Sin City. Tourists flock to Vegas by the millions—but what about residents? If you plan on living nearby, it’s helpful to know the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas and its surrounding suburbs. There are a lot of factors to consider, especially safety. Let’s ‌look at the best places to live in Las Vegas and which areas you should avoid, as well as some tips to protect your Vegas home.

Crime Rate in Las VegasTitle

Overall, crime in the Las Vegas area exceeds the national average. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s annual reportsA, the local police force answered more than 1.2 million 9-1-1 calls in 2021 alone. That’s an average of 3,400 emergency calls each day. People reported more than 50,000 crimes, an increase of 6% over the prior year. That breaks down to about 30 crimes per 1,000 residents. By comparison, the nationwide crime rateA was closer to 24 crimes per 1,000 residents in 2020.

Clearly, Las Vegas has some trouble with crime. Specific types of crimes have spiked in Las VegasA recently, such as a 49% increase in reported homicides and an 11% increase in reported property crimes. (The data set’s category of property crimes includes burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.) For a city flooded with tourists who are unaware of their surroundings and therefore more susceptible to crime, these numbers hardly come as a surprise.

That all said, Las Vegas actually does not top the list of most dangerous metropolitan areas for its size. In fact, Forbes includes Las Vegas in its list of the 15 safest cities in the USA with populations over 300,000. In a poll on Niche.comA, 76% of Las Vegas residents said they feel “pretty safe” or “very safe” in their hometown.

So, is Las Vegas safe to live in? Well, in safety as in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Let’s look at the best Las Vegas neighborhoods in terms of safety.

Safest Las Vegas NeighborhoodsTitle

There are plenty of nice neighborhoods in Las Vegas and its suburbs. Since safety is an important factor, we’ll look at this first. According to NeighborhoodScout, the top 10 safest neighborhoods in Las VegasA are:

1. Summerlin West
2. Stonebridge
3. Farm Rd / N Tenaya Way
4. Bard
5. Sheep Mountain
6. Sun City Summerlin West
7. Lone Mountain Northwest
8. Silverstone Ranch South
9. Sheep Mountain Southwest
10. Sunrise Manor Southeast

The safest neighborhoods in nearby North Las VegasA are:

1. Aliante
2. Aliante North
3. El Dorado East
4. Aliante East
5. Aliante Southeast
6. El Dorado North
7. W Dorrell Ln / N Commerce St
8. Commerce St / W Rome Blvd
9. Grand Teton Dr / Aviary Way
10. Aliante Northwest

Unsurprisingly, these neighborhoods are far from the city center, removed from the dazzle of neon lights and ubiquitous casinos. Similarly, nearby suburbs offer a reprieve from crime while giving easy access to the city’s features. Keeping in mind that Las Vegas typically sees 30 crimes per 1,000 residents each year, some of the best suburbs of Las Vegas in terms of safety include Overton, NVA (5.82 crimes per 1,000 residents annually), Boulder City, NVA (11.15 crimes per 1,000 residents annually), and Henderson, NVA (17.13 crimes per 1,000 residents annually). North Las Vegas sees 21.19 crimes per 1,000 residents.

Most Dangerous Las Vegas NeighborhoodsTitle

So, where should you avoid in Las Vegas? Just as there are safer parts of town, there are also areas that are more prone to crime. However, remember that cities with lots of tourism have skewed per capita crime statistics since many visitors fall victim to crimes. Whether you’re looking for a place to live or just visiting, keep your wits about you in unsafe locations.

As ‌with most major cities, crime is more prevalent in the downtown area and less prevalent in the outlying areas. The neighborhoods just off the famously glitzy Strip are among the most dangerous areas. According to 2020 FBI data and UpgradedHome.comA, here are the top Las Vegas neighborhoods to avoid in order to stay safe:

1. Meadows Village (1,158.22 crimes per 1,000 residents; 3,097 total crimes reported)
2. West Las Vegas (700.35 crimes per 1,000 residents; 14,159 total crimes reported)
3. Twin Lakes (656.10 crimes per 1,000 residents; 7,990 total crimes reported)
4. Downtown East (558.59 crimes per 1,000 residents; 4,381 total crimes reported)
5. Rancho Charleston (434.47 crimes per 1,000 residents; 12,507 total crimes reported)
6. Sunrise (397.88 crimes per 1,000 residents; 7,586 total crimes reported)
7. Naked City (366.10 crimes per 1,000 residents; 3,989 total crimes reported)
8. Cultural Corridor (344.14 crimes per 1,000 residents; 4,351 total crimes reported)
9. Desert Shores (340.82 crimes per 1,000 residents; 5,855 total crimes reported)
10. Huntridge (227.18 crimes per 1,000 residents; 3,661 total crimes reported)

If you must visit or stay in one of these areas, be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to keep yourself safe. (More on that below.)

Other FactorsTitle

Of course, there’s more to consider than safety when looking for the best areas to live in Las Vegas. Depending on what’s important to you and your family, other neighborhoods warrant a closer look.

Top-rated public schools (from Niche.comA):

• Many Henderson neighborhoods
• Summerlin 
• Sovana
• Peccole Ranch
• The Lakes

Most affordable (from Movoto.comA): 

• Bunkerville
• Indian Springs
• Whitney
• Sunrise Manor
• Winchester

Highest real estate appreciation (from NeighborhoodScout.comA):

• Downtown
• Arts District
• The Strip
• Meadows Village
• Paradise South

Greatest income growth (from NeighborhoodScout.comA):

• Stonebridge
• Rainbow Park
• Lone Mountain Northwest
• Sheep Mountain Southwest
• Summerlin West

Best nearby amenities (from AreaVibes.comA):

• Meadows Village
• Winchester
• Rancho Charleston
• Charleston Heights
• Buffalo

There might not be one perfect way to find the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas, but no matter what matters to you, there is a neighborhood that’s right for you.

Tips for Staying Safe in Las VegasTitle

Regardless of where you settle in Las Vegas, it’s important to make sure that your home or business property is secure. We’ve compiled resources for securing your Las Vegas propertyA, but we’ll go through a few highlights here.

Consider how your home looks through the eyes of an intruder. Using the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)A, you can prevent criminal behavior through smart design choices like illuminating entryways and eliminating hiding spots.

Get to know your local crime prevention officer. Each of Las Vegas’ 10 police beats has a dedicated officer who can provide guidance about home security in your area.

Most importantly, install home security camerasA. A visible security camera deters potential criminals. If the threat of being recorded isn’t enough to stop them, a security camera that’s backed by artificial intelligence and surveillance guardsA (like Deep Sentinel) can scare away intruders before they can commit a crime.

Even the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas need the extra security and peace of mind that live securityA can bring. Stay safe in Sin City with Deep Sentinel.