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

Crime per Capita in Tama County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Tama County.

 

Tama County, IA Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

B-

Overall Crime Grade™

B-
C+
Other Crime Grade
B-

$5.98 million

Cost of Crime™ for Tama County, IA

In 2025, crime will cost $850 per household.

More cost data

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

The B- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US county. Tama County ranks in the 58th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 58% of counties but less safe than 42%. This analysis applies only to Tama County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Tama County is 27.72 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Tama County Residents generally consider the northwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Tama County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 27 in the south areas to 1 in 53 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Tama County, IA see the most incidents - about 163 per year. In contrast, the north part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 16 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Tama County, IA

The total projected cost of crime in Tama County for 2025 is $5,976,672. This translates to approximately $342 per resident and $850 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.0% of the median household income in Tama County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 62.0%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 25.6%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.3%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Tama County Compared to Other Counties?

Tama County, IA: $342
Scott County, IA: $372
Dallas County, IA: $264
Iowa: $326
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Tama County is $342 per year, which is $122 less than the national average and $17 more than Iowa's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Tama County:
  • In Scott County, IA, crime costs $372 per person, which is $30 more than in Tama County.
  • In Dallas County, IA, crime costs $264 per person, which is $78 less than in Tama County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Tama County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Tama County
Cost per Tama County Resident
Murder
$841,671
$48
Rape/Sexual Assault
$802,839
$46
Robbery
$158,813
$9
Assault
$1.09 million
$63
Kidnapping
$115,684
$7
Vehicle Theft
$225,058
$13
Burglary
$558,056
$32
Theft
$961,385
$55
Arson
$38,339
$2
Vandalism
$633,334
$36
Animal Cruelty
$11,062
$1
Drug Crimes
$465,688
$27
Identity Theft
$69,861
$4
Total Cost of Crime
$5,976,672
$342

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Tama 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 Tama County totals $9,794,559 ($561 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $15,771,231 ($903 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 Tama 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 south 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 Tama County has 2, have the same problem. Of Tama County’s 17,469 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 Tama County, IA at ISP Reports.

Tama 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 Tama County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
2.182
Robbery
0.2890
Rape
0.7580
Murder
0.0256
Total Violent Crime
3.255 (B-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
10.63
Vehicle Theft
0.8320
Burglary
3.522
Arson
0.0909
Total Property Crime
15.07 (C+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1092
Drug Crimes
3.604
Vandalism
5.075
Identity Theft
0.5167
Animal Cruelty
0.0856
Total "Other" Rate
9.390 (B-)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Tama County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Tama County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
C-
B-
D+
A
C
A+
B
A
B-
A-
A
A-
C+
C
C-
B
A-
C+
B
B
B
B-
B+
B-
A
B+
A+
B
B+
B+

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Tama 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
A-
C+
C+
D+
D+
D+
D-
C
C
C
C+
C+
B+
B
B
B+
B+
B+
A+
A+
A+
B-
B
B
B
A-
A-
C+
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Tama 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 Tama County, IA average SchoolGrade of A, with 60% actual proficiency versus 56% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Tama County 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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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 18 hours 5 minutes in Tama County. Want to protect your home?

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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.