Ames, IA Crime Rates: Stats & Map

B+

35%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

41%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

34%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Ames_{/100k people}	Iowa_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	1,003	n/a (estimate)	1,500	1,618	2,324
Murder	2	n/a	3.0	1.7	6.3
Rape	58	n/a	86.8	42.5	40.0
Robbery	11	n/a	16.5	21.6	66.1
Assault	75	n/a	112.2	220.7	268.2
Violent crime	146	n/a (estimate)	218	287	370
Burglary	79	n/a	118.2	218.6	269.8
Theft	726	n/a	1,086.0	965.4	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	52	n/a	77.8	147.4	282.7
Property crime	857	n/a (estimate)	1,282	1,332	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Ames, IA

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Ames crime rate is lower than the national average by 35.5%. Specifically, there were 146 violent crimes in Ames, equivalent to 218 per 100,000 individuals, lower than the national average by 40.9%. Furthermore, Ames recorded 857 property crimes, amounting to 1282 per 100,000 residents, which was lower than the average by 34.4%.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Ames?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Ames residents. Out of the respondents (42 in total), 71% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Ames were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 29% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Ames a Safe Place to Live?

Is Ames a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Ames has a crime rate that is lower than the national average by 35%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 2.75 daily incidents, encompassing 0.4 violent crimes and 2.35 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Ames as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Ames Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Ames crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Ames has decreased by 0.5% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 18.7% and property crime has decreased by 3.2%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Ames

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Ames crime rates. In Ames, the poverty rate stands at 26.6%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

In Ames, 96% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of any city can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

The impact of law enforcement and community policing efforts plays a crucial role in shaping crime rates in any city. A robust and cooperative bond between law enforcement and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, enhancing overall safety. In Ames, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents stands at 1.27, differing from the national average of 3.25. Effective law enforcement hinges not solely on officer numbers but also on the manner in which they interact and collaborate with the community. Building trust and cooperation are central tenets of community policing, amplifying its influence on crime prevention.

Ames crime map

The Ames crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Ames as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Ames crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Ames crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

New Real Estate Listings in Ames Area

For Sale For Rent

Search

Search Homes for Sale in Ames, IA

Compare Ames, IA Crime

See How Much House You Can Afford. Get Pre-Approved Today

Crime Quick Facts

Ames crime rates are 35% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Ames are 41% lower than the national average
In Ames you have a 1 in 67 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Ames is safer than 51% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Ames has increased by 1%

Ames, IA Crime Quiz

Safest Places to Live in and Around Ames

See all the best places to live around Ames

Write a review to give others more information about this area.

See all Ames poll results

The best places in Iowa

Here are the best places to live in Iowa

Top 10 cities in Iowa with the best education system

These are the 10 most affordable cities in Iowa

See the best places to live in & around Ames

Daily Crime In Ames (per 100,000 people)

The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Ames, IA per 100,000 people. In Ames, the total number of daily crimes is 1.08 times less than the Iowa average and 1.55 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Ames is 1.31 times less than the Iowa average and 1.69 times less than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Ames has a daily crime rate that is 1.04 times less than the Iowa average and 1.52 times less than the national average.

How Safe is Ames (higher is better)

Is Ames safe in comparison to other cities in the state of Iowa as well as in comparison to the rest of the areas across the United States. Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Ames to other cities in the state and across the country, Ames is 63% safer than other cities of Iowa and 51% safer than other cities in the nation. Ames has a ranks above average in comparison to other cities in the country.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Ames

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Ames is 1 in 458

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Ames is 1 in 79

The chance of being a victim of crime in Ames is 1 in 67

Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Ames, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 458. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 79 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Ames is 1 in 67.

Year Over Year Crime In Ames (per 100,000 people)

A good indicator of whether Ames is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Ames has increased by 20%, while the property crime rate in Ames has decreased by 2% year over year. The number of total crimes in Ames has increased by 1% year over year.

Ames police department

Item	Ames	Iowa	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	75	3,827	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	1.3	1.8	3.3

There are a total of 75 Ames police officers. This results in 1.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 29.8% less than the Iowa average and 61.1% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in Iowa

State	Total offenders	Iowa_/100K	National_/100K
Iowa	6,040	205	266

There are a total of 6,040 sex offenders in Iowa. This yields a total of 205 sex offenders in Iowa per 100,000 residents which is 23% less than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Gilbert, IA	1,088	85	394	479
Slater, IA	1,463	96	445	541
Roland, IA	1,374	97	452	548
Huxley, IA	3,912	118	550	668
Woodward, IA	1,235	122	567	689
Madrid, IA	2,570	124	579	704
Alleman, IA	438	211	983	1,194
Ames, IA	66,361	218	1,282	1,500

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Eagan, MN	66,377	139	2,251	2,389
Tamarac, FL	66,432	347	2,100	2,447
Lodi, CA	66,562	751	3,517	4,268
Alpharetta, GA	66,566	275	1,303	1,577
North Little Rock, AR	66,079	1,230	4,634	5,864
Ames, IA	66,361	218	1,282	1,500

Source: The Ames, IA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.