Crime per Capita in Polk County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Polk County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
B-
Overall Crime Grade™
B |
|
B- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B- |
$179.5 million
Cost of Crime™ for Polk County, IA
In 2025, crime will cost $881 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Polk County 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 Polk County, IA Safe?
The B- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US county. Polk County ranks in the 59th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 59% of counties but less safe than 41%. This analysis applies only to Polk County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Polk County is 27.40 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Polk County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Polk County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 23 in the central areas to 1 in 65 in the northwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Polk County, IA see the most incidents - about 2,781 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 883 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Polk County, IA
The total projected cost of crime in Polk County for 2025 is $179,503,039. This translates to approximately $352 per resident and $881 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in Polk County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 58.9%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 29.5%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.5%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Polk County Compared to Other Counties?
| Polk County, IA: | $352 |
|---|---|
| Scott County, IA: | $372 |
| Dallas County, IA: | $264 |
| Iowa: | $326 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Polk County is $352 per year, which is $112 less than the national average and $26 more than Iowa's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Polk County:
- In Scott County, IA, crime costs $372 per person, which is $20 more than in Polk County.
- In Dallas County, IA, crime costs $264 per person, which is $88 less than in Polk County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Polk County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Polk County |
Cost per Polk County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$25.8 million |
$51 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$22.6 million |
$44 |
Robbery |
$3.09 million |
$6 |
Assault |
$30.0 million |
$59 |
Kidnapping |
$1.85 million |
$4 |
Vehicle Theft |
$25.4 million |
$50 |
Burglary |
$8.74 million |
$17 |
Theft |
$25.3 million |
$50 |
Arson |
$1.20 million |
$2 |
Vandalism |
$14.6 million |
$29 |
Animal Cruelty |
$331,114 |
$1 |
Drug Crimes |
$19.6 million |
$38 |
Identity Theft |
$1.10 million |
$2 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$179,503,039 |
$352 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Polk County, 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 Polk County totals $288,304,317 ($565 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $467,807,356 ($917 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 Polk County 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 west part of the county 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 Polk County has 78, have the same problem. Of Polk County’s 509,920 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 Polk County, IA at ISP Reports.Polk County 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 Polk County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.048 |
Robbery |
0.1926 |
Rape |
0.7311 |
Murder |
0.0269 |
Total Violent Crime |
2.999 (B) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
9.584 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.212 |
Burglary |
1.890 |
Arson |
0.0975 |
Total Property Crime |
14.78 (B-) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0597 |
Drug Crimes |
5.184 |
Vandalism |
4.011 |
Identity Theft |
0.2783 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0878 |
Total "Other" Rate |
9.620 (B-) |
Individual Polk County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Polk County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Polk County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | C+ | A+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A- | C- | A- | |
B+ | B+ | B | |
B | B | B | |
A+ | A- | A+ | |
A | A | A | |
A | A- | A+ | |
C- | B- | D+ | |
B | A | B |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Polk County is similar versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C+ | C+ | C+ | |
D+ | D+ | D+ | |
B- | B- | B- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
D- | D+ | D+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
B- | C- | C- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A | A- | A- | |
C | C- | C- |
Considering only the crime rate, Polk County 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 Polk County, IA average SchoolGrade of A-, with 58% actual proficiency versus 49% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Polk County schools on SchoolGrade
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