Safest Cities in Iowa (2023)

Iowa Safety Analysis

• Iowa ranks #13 out of 51 states for overall safety, above the national median. The state's 6 tracked cities show a mixed picture, with pockets of both high and low crime across a population of 1,103,356.
• The average violent crime rate across Iowa cities is 331 per 100K residents, which is 31% below the national average of 481/100K. This lower rate reflects relatively fewer assaults, robberies, and homicides compared to the rest of the country.
• Property crime averages 2,585/100K across Iowa, 18% below the national average of 3,153/100K. Residents face lower risk of burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft compared to most states.
• Only 11% of crime in Iowa is violent, well below the typical 20-25% national share. While property crime remains the primary concern, the risk of violent victimization is comparatively low.
• Des Moines leads Iowa with a safety score of 72/100, making it one of the safest communities in the state. Cities scoring above 70 typically have violent crime rates less than half the national average.