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

Crime per Capita in Wapello County

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

 

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

C

Overall Crime Grade™

C
C+
Other Crime Grade
C-

$14.0 million

Cost of Crime™ for Wapello County, IA

In 2025, crime will cost $964 per household.

More cost data

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

The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US county. Wapello County ranks in the 46th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 46% of counties but less safe than 54%. This analysis applies only to Wapello County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Wapello County is 31.78 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Wapello County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Wapello County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 23 in the central areas to 1 in 51 in the southwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Wapello County, IA see the most incidents - about 288 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 52 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Wapello County, IA

The total projected cost of crime in Wapello County for 2025 is $13,979,941. This translates to approximately $386 per resident and $964 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Wapello County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 62.4%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 25.2%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.3%

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

Wapello County, IA: $386
Scott County, IA: $372
Dallas County, IA: $264
Iowa: $326
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Wapello County is $386 per year, which is $78 less than the national average and $61 more than Iowa's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Wapello County:
  • In Scott County, IA, crime costs $372 per person, which is $14 less than in Wapello County.
  • In Dallas County, IA, crime costs $264 per person, which is $122 less than in Wapello County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Wapello County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Wapello County
Cost per Wapello County Resident
Murder
$1.36 million
$37
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.66 million
$46
Robbery
$282,206
$8
Assault
$3.33 million
$92
Kidnapping
$308,114
$9
Vehicle Theft
$628,901
$17
Burglary
$1.17 million
$32
Theft
$1.96 million
$54
Arson
$85,118
$2
Vandalism
$1.98 million
$55
Animal Cruelty
$23,234
$1
Drug Crimes
$1.07 million
$30
Identity Theft
$125,045
$3
Total Cost of Crime
$13,979,941
$386

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Wapello 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 Wapello County totals $17,974,131 ($497 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $31,954,072 ($883 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 Wapello 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 central 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 Wapello County has 5, have the same problem. Of Wapello County’s 36,201 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 Wapello County, IA at ISP Reports.

Wapello 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 Wapello County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
3.203
Robbery
0.2478
Rape
0.7585
Murder
0.0199
Total Violent Crime
4.229 (C)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
10.46
Vehicle Theft
1.122
Burglary
3.551
Arson
0.0974
Total Property Crime
15.23 (C+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1404
Drug Crimes
4.014
Vandalism
7.640
Identity Theft
0.4463
Animal Cruelty
0.0868
Total "Other" Rate
12.33 (C-)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Wapello 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
C+
C
C
A-
C+
C+
C-
C
C
B-
B-
B-
C-
C
C
C
C
C
F
D-
D-
C
C+
C+
C
B-
B-

Considering only the crime rate, Wapello County 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 Wapello County, IA average SchoolGrade of A-, with 54% actual proficiency versus 43% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Wapello 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 7 hours 36 minutes in Wapello County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Wapello County, IA

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.