Top 10 most dangerous cities in Iowa

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Iowa, known for its rolling plains and agricultural heritage, offers a peaceful and picturesque living experience. From the bustling city life of Des Moines to the scenic beauty of the Loess Hills, Iowa provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich history and cultural heritage are evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Iowa faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Iowa are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Iowa's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Iowa involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Iowa. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Iowa's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of agricultural heritage, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Fort Dodge Population: 24,168 1,061 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,257

Fort Dodge, IA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Iowa with 1,061 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (853), robbery (53), rape (151) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 336% higher than the Iowa average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Des Moines Population: 215,408 703 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,829

The second most dangerous city is Des Moines. With a population of 215,408 and a violent crime rate that is 189% higher than the Iowa average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Des Moines are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 703 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 142 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Davenport Population: 102,199 581 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 172 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,122

Home to 102,199 residents, Davenport, IA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Iowa. Unfortunately for residents of Davenport, crime is widespread, with more than 581 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.59 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 139% higher than the Iowa violent crime rate.

Sioux City Population: 82,535 555 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 180 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,879

With a violent crime rate that is 128% higher than the Iowa average, it's not hard to see why Sioux City made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (96), assault (372), rape (84) and homicide (4). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Sioux City more vulnerable to high crime.

Waterloo Population: 67,671 476 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 210 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,921

The ongoing battle with crime in Waterloo, IA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 476 and a 1 in 210 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Waterloo has a violent crime rate that is 96% higher than the Iowa average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Waterloo.

Council Bluffs Population: 62,376 421 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 238 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,873

Council Bluffs, IA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 421 per 100,000 people, which is 73% higher than the Iowa average. Council Bluffs has a population of 62,376, which translates to 1.15 crimes per day and 1 in 238 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Council Bluffs which are much safer than others.

Burlington Population: 24,858 414 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 242 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,239

A 1 in 242 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.13 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Burlington makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 414 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 70% higher than the Iowa average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (350), robbery (17), rape (38) and homicide (9).

Dubuque Population: 58,052 401 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 249 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,836

Dubuque, IA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Iowa and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 58,052 and a violent crime rate of 401 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 295 counts of assault, 24 counts of robbery, 80 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. All told, the Dubuque violent crime rate is 65% higher than the Iowa average.

Perry Population: 7,660 399 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 251 Total Crimes / 100k: 985

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Perry, IA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Iowa with a violent crime rate of 399 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.09 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 251 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Ottumwa Population: 24,505 397 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 252 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,014

Rounding out our list at #10 is Ottumwa, IA. With a population of 24,505 and a violent crime rate of 397 per 100,000 people (63% higher than the Iowa average), some parts of Ottumwa are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 278 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 83 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 252 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Iowa

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Fort Dodge	24,168	1,061	4,257
2	Des Moines	215,408	703	3,829
3	Davenport	102,199	581	4,122
4	Sioux City	82,535	555	3,879
5	Waterloo	67,671	476	2,921
6	Council Bluffs	62,376	421	2,873
7	Burlington	24,858	414	2,239
8	Dubuque	58,052	401	1,836
9	Perry	7,660	399	985
10	Ottumwa	24,505	397	3,014
11	Newton	15,160	384	1,774
12	Sheldon	5,178	371	982
13	Atlantic	6,600	369	2,361
14	Clinton	25,290	360	3,086
15	Hiawatha	7,395	360	1,342
16	Spirit Lake	5,130	342	1,728
17	Knoxville	7,154	325	2,044
18	Iowa City	75,849	321	1,995
19	Charles City	7,351	320	1,156
20	Marshalltown	26,957	297	2,071
21	Keokuk	10,225	287	1,874
22	Storm Lake	10,508	287	1,966
23	Webster City	7,699	286	1,615
24	Clarinda	5,371	284	1,305
25	Fort Madison	10,407	281	1,987
26	Red Oak	5,323	277	1,218
27	Estherville	5,729	275	585
28	Indianola	15,921	273	1,745
29	Creston	7,754	272	1,307
30	Centerville	5,433	263	1,315
31	Cedar Rapids	133,125	262	2,951
32	Clear Lake	7,594	252	1,884
33	DeWitt	5,215	250	1,248
34	Maquoketa	5,990	249	2,239
35	Muscatine	23,661	246	1,474
36	Mason City	27,064	224	2,546
37	Washington	7,318	222	2,091
38	Clive	17,246	209	1,375
39	Oelwein	5,896	209	765
40	Iowa Falls	5,067	201	1,769
41	Winterset	5,309	186	912
42	Grinnell	9,069	169	1,407
43	Ankeny	64,744	166	1,188
44	West Des Moines	66,724	165	1,879
45	Independence	6,085	161	820
46	Osceola	5,160	160	2,208
47	Ames	66,361	148	1,654
48	Altoona	18,917	143	2,154
49	Waukee	22,598	142	782
50	Waverly	10,172	141	1,027

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Iowa is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Iowa cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.