Crime per Capita in Council Bluffs
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Council Bluffs.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C+
Overall Crime Grade™
B- |
|
C+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C |
$21.6 million
Cost of Crime™ for Council Bluffs, IA
In 2025, crime will cost $721 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Council Bluffs in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Council Bluffs, IA Safe?
The C+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US city. Council Bluffs ranks in the 49th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 49% of cities but less safe than 51%. This analysis applies only to Council Bluffs's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The crime rate in Council Bluffs is 24.13 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Council Bluffs Residents generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Council Bluffs varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 27 in the west neighborhoods to 1 in 75 in the southeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the west parts of Council Bluffs, IA see the most incidents - about 378 per year. In contrast, the south part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 95 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Council Bluffs, IA
The total projected cost of crime in Council Bluffs for 2025 is $21,563,414. This translates to approximately $300 per resident and $721 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in Council Bluffs. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 61.1%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 26.9%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.0%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Council Bluffs Compared to Other Cities?
| Council Bluffs, IA: | $300 |
|---|---|
| Shenandoah, IA: | $542 |
| Norwalk, IA: | $145 |
| Iowa: | $326 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Council Bluffs is $300 per year, which is $165 less than the national average and $26 less than Iowa's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Council Bluffs:
- In Shenandoah, IA, crime costs $542 per person, which is $242 more than in Council Bluffs.
- In Norwalk, IA, crime costs $145 per person, which is $154 less than in Council Bluffs
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Council Bluffs for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Council Bluffs |
Cost per Council Bluffs Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$2.80 million |
$39 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$3.05 million |
$42 |
Robbery |
$386,081 |
$5 |
Assault |
$3.72 million |
$52 |
Kidnapping |
$386,034 |
$5 |
Vehicle Theft |
$1.91 million |
$26 |
Burglary |
$1.30 million |
$18 |
Theft |
$3.41 million |
$47 |
Arson |
$207,026 |
$3 |
Vandalism |
$2.09 million |
$29 |
Animal Cruelty |
$32,768 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$2.14 million |
$30 |
Identity Theft |
$129,805 |
$2 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$21,563,414 |
$300 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Council Bluffs, IA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Council Bluffs totals $34,360,859 ($477 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $55,924,273 ($777 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Council Bluffs crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the southeast part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports 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 Council Bluffs has 13, have the same problem. Of Council Bluffs’s 71,978 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
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 Council Bluffs, IA at ISP Reports.Council Bluffs Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Council Bluffs residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
1.799 |
Robbery |
0.1705 |
Rape |
0.6994 |
Murder |
0.0207 |
Total Violent Crime |
2.690 (B-) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
9.148 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.711 |
Burglary |
1.991 |
Arson |
0.1191 |
Total Property Crime |
12.97 (C+) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0885 |
Drug Crimes |
4.025 |
Vandalism |
4.062 |
Identity Theft |
0.2330 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0615 |
Total "Other" Rate |
8.470 (C) |
Individual Council Bluffs Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Council Bluffs is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Council Bluffs.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D+ | C- | D+ | |
A | A | A- | |
A- | A- | B | |
C | C+ | C- | |
A | B+ | A | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
D+ | B+ | D | |
B | D | A- | |
C | B- | C- | |
B- | A- | C |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
Council Bluffs is lower versus other cities of the same size for crime. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
C- | C | C | |
D | D+ | D+ | |
D+ | B | B | |
C | C | C | |
C | C+ | C+ | |
D- | D | D | |
B | B- | B- | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
C- | D+ | D+ | |
B- | C | C |
Considering only the crime rate, Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs, IA average SchoolGrade of A, with 60% actual proficiency versus 54% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Council Bluffs schools on SchoolGrade
About the Data
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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.