The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Iowa: Crime Maps and Statistics

B+

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	B
Property Crime Grade	B+
Other Crime Grade	B

Which crimes are included?

$1.1 billion

Cost of Crime™ for Iowa

In 2025, crime will cost $791 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Iowa 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 Iowa Safe?

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US state. Iowa ranks in the 73rd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 73% of states but less safe than 27%. This analysis applies only to Iowa's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby states.

The crime rate in Iowa is 25.75 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Iowa Residents generally consider the east part of the state to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Iowa varies by city - ranging from 1 in 34 in the southeast cities to 1 in 43 in the east.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Iowa see the most incidents - about 15,965 per year. In contrast, the west part of the state has the fewest, with approximately 3,035 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Iowa

The total projected cost of crime in Iowa for 2025 is $1,065,792,595. This translates to approximately $326 per resident and $791 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in Iowa. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 60.8%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 27.0%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.1%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Iowa Compared to Other States?

Iowa:	$326
New Mexico:	$835
New Jersey:	$240
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Iowa is $326 per year, which is $139 less than the national average. Below we compare states similar to Iowa:

In New Mexico, crime costs $835 per person, which is $509 more than in Iowa.
In New Jersey, crime costs $240 per person, which is $86 less than in Iowa

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Iowa for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Iowa	Cost per Iowa Resident
Murder	$152.8 million	$47
Rape/Sexual Assault	$148.0 million	$45
Robbery	$22.8 million	$7
Assault	$193.6 million	$59
Kidnapping	$14.7 million	$4
Vehicle Theft	$80.1 million	$24
Burglary	$64.7 million	$20
Theft	$163.2 million	$50
Arson	$7.66 million	$2
Vandalism	$103.0 million	$31
Animal Cruelty	$1.85 million	$1
Drug Crimes	$103.6 million	$32
Identity Theft	$9.80 million	$3
Total Cost of Crime	$1,065,792,595	$326

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Iowa

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 Iowa totals $1,783,949,137 ($545 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $2,849,741,732 ($871 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 Iowa 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 east part of the state 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 Iowa has 836, have the same problem. Of Iowa’s 3,273,549 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 Iowa at ISP Reports.

Iowa 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 Iowa residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.059
Robbery	0.2214
Rape	0.7457
Murder	0.0248
Total Violent Crime	3.051 (B)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	9.624
Vehicle Theft	1.580
Burglary	2.181
Arson	0.0969
Total Property Crime	13.48 (B+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0741
Drug Crimes	4.279
Vandalism	4.402
Identity Theft	0.3869
Animal Cruelty	0.0763
Total "Other" Rate	9.219 (B)

Individual Iowa Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of crime in Iowa is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for states close to Iowa.

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Wisconsin	B	B-	A-
Minnesota	C	B	C
Illinois	B	B+	B+
Missouri	D	D	D+
Nebraska	C+	B+	C+
South Dakota	C	C	B-
Kansas	D+	C-	C
Indiana	A-	B-	B+
Michigan	B	D+	B+
Kentucky	B-	A-	B

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

Iowa is lower versus other states of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in states with comparable overall population in the state‘s boundaries.

Similar State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Rhode Island	A	A	A
Mississippi	A+	A+	A+
Montana	C-	D+	D+
Nevada	D	D	D
New Hampshire	A	A+	A+
New Mexico	F	F	F
Ohio	C+	B-	B-
Oklahoma	D+	D+	D+
Puerto Rico	F	F	F
Alaska	C+	F	F

Considering only the crime rate, Iowa is as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Iowa average SchoolGrade of A, with 61% actual proficiency versus 53% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Iowa schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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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.