West Des Moines, IA Arson Rates and Arson Maps

Crime Grade's arson map shows the safest places in West Des Moines in green. The most dangerous areas in West Des Moines are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is West Des Moines, IA Safe?

The B- grade means the rate of arson is slightly lower than the average US city. West Des Moines is in the 57th percentile for safety, meaning 43% of cities are safer and 57% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to West Des Moines's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities.

The rate of arson in West Des Moines is 0.0984 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in West Des Moines generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of arson in West Des Moines may be as high as 1 in 8,604 in the northeast neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 11,504 in the southeast part of the city. See the section on interpreting the arson map, however, because comparing rates for arson or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.

By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the east parts of West Des Moines, IA: about 1 per year. The southeast part of West Des Moines has fewer cases of arson with only 0 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Arson Maps

When looking at the arson map for West Des Moines, remember that the rate of arson per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the north part of the city. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the arson rate map do not always indicate danger for West Des Moines residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which West Des Moines has 0, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which West Des Moines has 16, have the same problem. Of West Des Moines’s 69,714 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in West Des Moines, IA at ISP Reports.

West Des Moines Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All arson rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 West Des Moines residents in a standard year.

Individual West Des Moines Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of arson in West Des Moines is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to West Des Moines.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Arson Crime Grade
Clive, IA	C+	D	C+	B
Windsor Heights, IA	D+	B	D+	C
Urbandale, IA	B-	B-	B-	B
Waukee, IA	B+	D+	A+	B+
Booneville, IA	A	A+	A	B
Cumming, IA	A	A+	A	B-
Johnston, IA	A-	B	A-	B
Grimes, IA	A-	A	A-	B+
Des Moines, IA	C+	C+	C+	B-
Norwalk, IA	A+	A+	A+	B-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

West Des Moines is lower versus other cities of the same size for arson. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Arson Crime Grade
Tunnel Springs, AL	D	D-	D-	D-
Tunstall, VA	A	A+	A+	B+
Turpin, OK	D-	D-	D-	D-
Tucker, MO	D	C	C	D-
Tustin, CA	D+	C-	C-	F
Tyro, KS	B	A-	A-	D
Troy, NY	C+	C-	C-	A
Turnerville, GA	B+	B	B	B
Tulsa, OK	D	D+	D+	D
Turney, TX	C+	C-	C-	B+

Considering only the arson rate, West Des Moines is as safe as the Iowa state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in West Des Moines, IA average SchoolGrade of A, with 63% actual proficiency versus 54% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See West Des Moines schools on SchoolGrade

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 5 hours 16 minutes in West Des Moines. Want to protect your home?

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.