The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Melbourne, IA: Crime Maps and Statistics

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C-
Property Crime Grade	D+
Other Crime Grade	C

Which crimes are included?

$381,262

Cost of Crime™ for Melbourne, IA

In 2025, crime will cost $857 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Melbourne 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 Melbourne, IA Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Melbourne ranks in the 34th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 34% of cities but less safe than 66%. This analysis applies only to Melbourne's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Melbourne is 29.98 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Melbourne Residents generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Melbourne varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 30 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 38 in the southeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Melbourne, IA see the most incidents - about 11 per year. In contrast, the east part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Melbourne, IA

The total projected cost of crime in Melbourne for 2025 is $381,262. This translates to approximately $368 per resident and $857 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.9% of the median household income in Melbourne. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 61.0%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 27.1%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.8%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Melbourne Compared to Other Cities?

Melbourne, IA:	$368
Shenandoah, IA:	$542
Norwalk, IA:	$145
Iowa:	$326
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Melbourne is $368 per year, which is $97 less than the national average and $42 more than Iowa's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Melbourne:

In Shenandoah, IA, crime costs $542 per person, which is $174 more than in Melbourne.
In Norwalk, IA, crime costs $145 per person, which is $222 less than in Melbourne

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Melbourne	Cost per Melbourne Resident
Murder	$61,697	$59
Rape/Sexual Assault	$45,237	$44
Robbery	$12,917	$12
Assault	$79,544	$77
Kidnapping	$3,822	$4
Vehicle Theft	$12,823	$12
Burglary	$19,562	$19
Theft	$76,611	$74
Arson	$2,387	$2
Vandalism	$39,018	$38
Animal Cruelty	$214	$0
Drug Crimes	$25,346	$24
Identity Theft	$2,084	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$381,262	$368

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Melbourne, 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 Melbourne totals $653,166 ($630 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,034,428 ($998 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 Melbourne 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 city has few 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 have the same problem. Of Melbourne’s 1,037 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 Melbourne, IA at ISP Reports.

Melbourne 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 Melbourne residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.671
Robbery	0.3960
Rape	0.7195
Murder	0.0317
Total Violent Crime	3.818 (C-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	14.26
Vehicle Theft	0.7985
Burglary	2.080
Arson	0.0953
Total Property Crime	17.24 (D+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0608
Drug Crimes	3.304
Vandalism	5.267
Identity Theft	0.2596
Animal Cruelty	0.0279
Total "Other" Rate	8.919 (C)

Individual Melbourne Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Melbourne is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Melbourne.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Van Cleve, IA	C-	B-	C-
Rhodes, IA	C+	B	C-
State Center, IA	C-	B	D+
LaMoille, IA	D+	B	D+
Haverhill, IA	C-	B	D+
Baxter, IA	A-	A-	A+
Laurel, IA	C+	B+	C
Collins, IA	A	A	A-
Ferguson, IA	B	B-	B-
Marietta, IA	C-	A-	C-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Melbourne is similar 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
Rosemount, OH	C-	A	A
Mount Selman, TX	B	C	C
Naytahwaush, MN	D-	D	D
New Bedford, OH	A+	B-	B-
Occoquan, VA	F	D	D
Otter Hill, VA	B-	A+	A+
Ovilla, TN	C-	D	D
Paris, ME	C	A	A
Richmond, NH	A	A	A
Ridgway, IL	C+	C	C

Considering only the crime rate, Melbourne is less safe than the Iowa state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Melbourne, IA average SchoolGrade of A, with 61% actual proficiency versus 54% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Melbourne 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.