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

D+

Overall Crime Grade™

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

Which crimes are included?

$3.19 million

Cost of Crime™ for Oelwein, IA

In 2025, crime will cost $1,091 per household.

More cost data

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

The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Oelwein ranks in the 25th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 25% of cities but less safe than 75%. This analysis applies only to Oelwein's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Oelwein is 34.89 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Oelwein Residents generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Oelwein varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 19 in the south neighborhoods to 1 in 42 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Oelwein, IA see the most incidents - about 44 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 11 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Oelwein, IA

The total projected cost of crime in Oelwein for 2025 is $3,190,712. This translates to approximately $489 per resident and $1,091 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.7% of the median household income in Oelwein. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 57.7%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 30.3%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

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

Oelwein, IA:	$489
Shenandoah, IA:	$542
Norwalk, IA:	$145
Iowa:	$326
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Oelwein is $489 per year, which is $25 more than the national average and $164 more than Iowa's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Oelwein:

In Shenandoah, IA, crime costs $542 per person, which is $52 more than in Oelwein.
In Norwalk, IA, crime costs $145 per person, which is $344 less than in Oelwein

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Oelwein	Cost per Oelwein Resident
Murder	$593,773	$91
Rape/Sexual Assault	$286,507	$44
Robbery	$83,351	$13
Assault	$875,663	$134
Kidnapping	$31,799	$5
Vehicle Theft	$108,588	$17
Burglary	$215,438	$33
Theft	$406,731	$62
Arson	$18,373	$3
Vandalism	$335,866	$52
Animal Cruelty	$5,537	$1
Drug Crimes	$220,439	$34
Identity Theft	$8,646	$1
Total Cost of Crime	$3,190,712	$489

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Oelwein, 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 Oelwein totals $5,573,128 ($855 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $8,763,839 ($1,344 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 Oelwein 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 central 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 Oelwein has 6, have the same problem. Of Oelwein’s 6,519 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 Oelwein, IA at ISP Reports.

Oelwein 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 Oelwein residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	4.677
Robbery	0.4065
Rape	0.7248
Murder	0.0485
Total Violent Crime	5.857 (D-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	12.05
Vehicle Theft	1.076
Burglary	3.644
Arson	0.1167
Total Property Crime	16.88 (C-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0805
Drug Crimes	4.571
Vandalism	7.212
Identity Theft	0.1714
Animal Cruelty	0.1148
Total "Other" Rate	12.15 (D+)

Individual Oelwein Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Stanley, IA	B	C-	A
Hazleton, IA	B	A-	A-
Maynard, IA	C+	C	B
Fairbank, IA	C+	B-	B-
Oran, IA	C	C+	C-
Westgate, IA	C-	D+	C-
Aurora, IA	B+	B	A+
Randalia, IA	C+	F	B-
Otterville, IA	B-	C+	B-
Arlington, IA	B+	C	A

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Oelwein is higher 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
Mount Carmel, TN	D+	D+	D+
Perry, OK	C-	C-	C-
Perry, NY	A-	B	B
Perkiomenville, PA	A+	A+	A+
Pelham Manor, NY	D-	C-	C-
Oceanport, NJ	A	A	A
North Plains, OR	D+	C-	C-
New Hope, AL	C	B-	B-
Muleshoe, TX	F	D-	D-
Mount Vernon, IA	B+	B-	B-

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

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Oelwein, IA average SchoolGrade of A-, with 55% actual proficiency versus 47% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Oelwein 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.