The Best Home Security Systems in Black Hawk County, IA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Black Hawk County, IA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County every 4 hours 9 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Black Hawk County experiences 15.95 property crimes per 1000 people and 3.576 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 Black Hawk County, IA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Black Hawk County. The combination of a high amount of renters (31%) and education level (32% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Black Hawk County, IA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County, IA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Black Hawk County, IA
Our analysis gives Black Hawk County a property crime grade of: B-. Black Hawk County is in the 40th percentile of safety, meaning 40% of cities in Iowa are safer and 60% are more dangerous. Please visit our Black Hawk County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the central part of Black Hawk County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 42. Compare this to the western part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 120.
A-
B |
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B- |
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Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
A crime occurs every 2 hours 44 minutes (on average) in Black Hawk County, IA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Black Hawk County safe? Compared to all of Iowa, Black Hawk 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 similar pattern, where Black Hawk County, with its burglary rate of 4.639 per 1000, is as safe as the average Iowa county.
In addition, Black Hawk County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Black Hawk County, IA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Black Hawk County, IA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
10.04 |
1,327 |
25.5 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.200 |
159 |
3.1 |
Burglary |
4.639 |
613 |
11.8 |
Arson |
0.0748 |
10 |
0.2 |
Weather and Climate in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County, IA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Black Hawk County, IA is 42.84 degrees, reaching 88.60 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 85.81 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Black Hawk County was built in 1969, which is 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 Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County, IA
Black Hawk County, IA gets an average rainfall of 1.2" per year. This is higher 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 Black Hawk County, IA
Black Hawk County, IA reaches an average of 21.58 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 26.61 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Black Hawk County is 54 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 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 Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County, IA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Black Hawk 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 31.15% (40,857) of people in Black Hawk County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 68.85% or 90,287 of Black Hawk 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 86% of people who commute an average of 21 minutes to work in or around Black Hawk 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 5% of Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $66,170 annually. In addition, 32.0% 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 Black Hawk County is $169,424. 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 Black Hawk County, IA
There are 27 police stations within the boundaries of Black Hawk County, and 19 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Black Hawk County center, there are 94 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Black Hawk County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Federal Bureau-Investigation 220 West Ridgeway Avenue # 200 Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 234-4327 ifccfbi.com |
Federal Bureau-Investigation 220 West Ridgeway Avenue # 200 Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 234-4327 ifccfbi.com |
Black Hawk Sheriff's Office 225 East 6th St Waterloo, IA 50703 (319) 291-2587 bhcso.org |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Black Hawk County, IA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Black Hawk County, IA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County, IA | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Buchanan County, IA | C- | C | less safe |
| Hardin County, IA | D+ | C- | less safe |
| Delaware County, IA | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Hamilton County, IA | A | B+ | more safe |
| Dubuque County, IA | C+ | C+ | less safe |
| Webster County, IA | F | F | less safe |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | B | B- | about as safe |
| Calhoun County, IA | B+ | A | more safe |
| Sac County, IA | B- | C | about as safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Black Hawk County, IA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Black Hawk County, IA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt County, CA | D+ | B- | less safe |
| Cache County, UT | C | C+ | less safe |
| Napa County, CA | A | A+ | more safe |
| Brunswick County, NC | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| Linn County, OR | A- | A | more safe |
| Cochise County, AZ | F | F | less safe |
| Calhoun County, MI | C | C+ | less safe |
| Hampton City, VA | C | C- | less safe |
| Tazewell County, IL | A- | A | more safe |
| Ponce Municipio, PR | D | D- | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Black Hawk County, IA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk 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.
Simplisafe, Ring, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 4 hours 9 minutes in Black Hawk County.
- The county experiences 15.95 property crimes and 3.576 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Black Hawk County's property crime grade stands at an 'B-', comparably as safe as other Iowa {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Black Hawk County. The combination of a high amount of renters (31%) and education level (32% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 88.60 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 21.58 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.2" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 54 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 31.15% of Black Hawk County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 86% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Black Hawk County's lower household median income of $66,170 and 32.0% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Black Hawk County hosts 27 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.