The Best Home Security Systems in Benton County, IA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Benton County, IA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Benton County, IA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Benton County every 1 day 0 hours, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Benton County experiences 13.56 property crimes per 1000 people and 5.238 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Benton County, IA
Best Overall
Vivint
We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 84% of residents in Benton County own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Benton County where the median age is 43.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
No Contract Pick
Simplisafe
These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Benton County, IA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Benton County, IA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Benton County, IA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Benton County, IA
Our analysis gives Benton County a property crime grade of: A-. Benton County is in the 19th percentile of safety, meaning 19% of cities in Iowa are safer and 81% are more dangerous. Please visit our Benton County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the northern part of Benton County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 36. Compare this to the southeastern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 132.
A
A+ |
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A- |
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Other Crime Grade |
A- |
A crime occurs every 15 hours 1 minute (on average) in Benton County, IA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Benton County safe? Compared to all of Iowa, Benton County is rated as safe as the average Iowa county, which has a property crime rate of 17.97 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Benton County, with its burglary rate of 3.623 per 1000, is as safe as the average Iowa county.
In addition, Benton County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Benton County, IA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Benton County, IA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
8.805 |
228 |
4.4 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.093 |
28 |
0.5 |
Burglary |
3.623 |
94 |
1.8 |
Arson |
0.0407 |
1 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Benton County, IA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Benton County, IA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Benton County, IA is 46.12 degrees, reaching 89.62 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 85.71 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Benton County was built in 1968, which is much older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Iowa build in 1974.
Between average seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Benton County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Benton County, IA
Benton County, IA gets an average rainfall of 0.2" per year. This is lower than the average of 0.6" for Iowa.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Benton County, IA
Benton County, IA reaches an average of 26.59 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 28.31 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Benton County is 55 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Iowa home that's 49 years old and much more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Benton County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Benton County, IA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Benton County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 16.11% (4,120) of people in Benton County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 83.89% or 21,455 of Benton County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 88% of people who commute an average of 30 minutes to work in or around Benton County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 4% of Benton County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Benton County tend to have a higher median household income than nearby counties, earning $73,694 annually. In addition, 21.6% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Benton County is $173,945. Compared to the median home value in Iowa of $182,666, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Benton County, IA
There are 10 police stations within the boundaries of Benton County, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Benton County center, there are 101 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Benton County may be slower. When response times can be improved, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Shellsburg Police Department 108 Main St Ne Shellsburg, IA 52332 (319) 436-7763 shellsburg.com |
City Of Vinton 110 West 3rd St Vinton, IA 52349 (319) 472-4208 vmeu.org |
Atkins Police Department 113 East 3rd St Vinton, IA 52349 (319) 472-4777 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Benton County, IA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Benton County, IA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County, IA | B | A | less safe |
| Tama County, IA | D | C- | less safe |
| Jones County, IA | A | A- | more safe |
| Marshall County, IA | B- | C+ | less safe |
| Jackson County, IA | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| Story County, IA | C | B | less safe |
| Boone County, IA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Carroll County, IL | D- | D- | less safe |
| Greene County, IA | D | C- | less safe |
| Ogle County, IL | A+ | A+ | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Benton County, IA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Benton County, IA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine County, MN | C+ | C+ | less safe |
| San Juan County, WA | D- | D- | less safe |
| Saluda County, SC | A | A- | more safe |
| Potter County, PA | D+ | C | less safe |
| Polk County, MO | B- | B- | less safe |
| Polk County, AR | B | B | less safe |
| Dallas County, MO | D- | D | less safe |
| Plumas County, CA | C- | D+ | less safe |
| Plaquemines Parish, LA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Piscataquis County, ME | D+ | D- | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Benton County, IA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Benton County, IA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Benton County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Vivint, ADT, and Simplisafe have emerged as the top choices for Benton County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Benton County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 1 day 0 hours in Benton County.
- The county experiences 13.56 property crimes and 5.238 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Benton County's property crime grade stands at an 'A-', comparably as safe as other Iowa {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Vivint: We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 84% of residents in Benton County own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Benton County where the median age is 43.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Simplisafe: These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 89.62 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 26.59 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.2" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 55 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 16.11% of Benton County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 88% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Benton County's higher household median income of $73,694 and 21.6% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Benton County hosts 10 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.