Des Moines, IA Vandalism Rates and Vandalism Maps

Crime Grade's vandalism map shows the safest places in the Des Moines area in green. The most dangerous areas in the Des Moines area are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is Des Moines, IA Safe?

The C+ grade means the rate of vandalism is about the same as the average US city. Des Moines is in the 50th percentile for safety, meaning 50% of cities are safer and 50% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to the Des Moines area's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities.

The rate of vandalism in the Des Moines area is 3.705 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in the Des Moines area generally consider the southwest part of the city to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of vandalism in the Des Moines area may be as high as 1 in 187 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 501 in the southwest part of the city. See the section on interpreting the vandalism map, however, because comparing rates for vandalism or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.

By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the central parts of Des Moines, IA: about 933 per year. The southwest part of the Des Moines area has fewer cases of vandalism with only 94 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Vandalism Maps

When looking at the vandalism map for the Des Moines area, remember that the rate of vandalism per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the central part of the city. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the vandalism rate map do not always indicate danger for the Des Moines area residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which the Des Moines area has 0, 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 the Des Moines area has 31, have the same problem. Of the Des Moines area’s 743,815 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.

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 Des Moines, IA at ISP Reports.

Des Moines Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All vandalism rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Des Moines residents in a standard year.

Individual Des Moines Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of vandalism in the Des Moines area is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to the Des Moines area.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Vandalism Crime Grade
Windsor Heights, IA	D+	B	D+	C+
Pleasant Hill, IA	A-	A-	A-	B
Berwick, IA	B	B+	A-	C-
Urbandale, IA	B-	B-	B-	B+
West Des Moines, IA	C+	B-	C	B-
Johnston, IA	A-	B	A-	A-
Altoona, IA	A-	A-	A-	B-
Norwalk, IA	A+	A+	A+	A+
Scotch Ridge, IA	A+	B+	A+	A+
Carlisle, IA	A	C-	A+	B+

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Des Moines is lower versus other cities of the same size for vandalism. 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	Vandalism Crime Grade
Provo, UT	B-	C+	C+	C
Daytona Beach, FL	A-	B+	B+	A
Winston-Salem, NC	D	D+	D+	D
Madison, WI	C-	B-	B-	C-
Syracuse, NY	C+	D	D	A+
Wichita, KS	D-	D-	D-	F
Ogden, UT	D+	B-	B-	D
Poughkeepsie, NY	B-	C-	C-	A+
Akron, OH	D+	C	C	D+
Springfield, MA	C+	D	D	C+

Considering only the vandalism rate, the Des Moines area is safer than 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 Des Moines, IA average SchoolGrade of A, with 62% actual proficiency versus 53% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Des Moines 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.

Crime By Zip Code Download

Our proprietary data is available for download by zip code or by state in a CSV Flat File. Please visit our download page for pricing and terms.

Download CSV

 

Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 29 minutes in the Des Moines area. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Des Moines, 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.