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: 24,700 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: 221,968 703 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 221,968 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.

Shenandoah Population: 5,020 657 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 152 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,170

Home to 5,020 residents, Shenandoah, IA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Iowa. Unfortunately for residents of Shenandoah, crime is widespread, with more than 657 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.80 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 170% higher than the Iowa violent crime rate.

Davenport Population: 105,320 581 violent crimes per 100k

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

With a violent crime rate that is 139% higher than the Iowa average, it's not hard to see why Davenport made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (65), assault (400), rape (108) and homicide (8). 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 Davenport more vulnerable to high crime.

Sioux City Population: 85,304 555 violent crimes per 100k

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

The ongoing battle with crime in Sioux City, 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 555 and a 1 in 180 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Sioux City has a violent crime rate that is 128% 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 Sioux City.

Waterloo Population: 70,052 476 violent crimes per 100k

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

Waterloo, IA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 476 per 100,000 people, which is 96% higher than the Iowa average. Waterloo has a population of 70,052, which translates to 1.30 crimes per day and 1 in 210 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 Waterloo which are much safer than others.

Council Bluffs Population: 63,786 421 violent crimes per 100k

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

A 1 in 238 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.15 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Council Bluffs makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 421 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 73% higher than the Iowa average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (275), robbery (71), rape (72) and homicide (3).

Burlington Population: 25,653 414 violent crimes per 100k

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

Burlington, IA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Iowa and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 25,653 and a violent crime rate of 414 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 350 counts of assault, 17 counts of robbery, 38 counts of rape and 9 counts of homicide. All told, the Burlington violent crime rate is 70% higher than the Iowa average.

Dubuque Population: 59,811 401 violent crimes per 100k

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

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, Dubuque, IA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Iowa with a violent crime rate of 401 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.10 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 249 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Perry Population: 7,820 399 violent crimes per 100k

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

Rounding out our list at #10 is Perry, IA. With a population of 7,820 and a violent crime rate of 399 per 100,000 people (64% higher than the Iowa average), some parts of Perry are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 324 counts of assault, 25 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 25 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 251 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	24,700	1,061	4,257
2	Des Moines	221,968	703	3,829
3	Shenandoah	5,020	657	1,170
4	Davenport	105,320	581	4,122
5	Sioux City	85,304	555	3,879
6	Waterloo	70,052	476	2,921
7	Council Bluffs	63,786	421	2,873
8	Burlington	25,653	414	2,239
9	Dubuque	59,811	401	1,836
10	Perry	7,820	399	985
11	Ottumwa	25,168	397	3,014
12	Newton	15,563	384	1,774
13	Sheldon	5,334	371	982
14	Atlantic	6,807	369	2,361
15	Clinton	25,804	360	3,086
16	Hiawatha	7,665	360	1,342
17	Spirit Lake	5,248	342	1,728
18	Knoxville	7,412	325	2,044
19	Iowa City	77,990	321	1,995
20	Charles City	7,624	320	1,156
21	Marshalltown	27,894	297	2,071
22	Keokuk	10,556	287	1,874
23	Storm Lake	10,898	287	1,966
24	Webster City	7,995	286	1,615
25	Clarinda	5,584	284	1,305
26	Fort Madison	10,650	281	1,987
27	Red Oak	5,512	277	1,218
28	Estherville	5,853	275	585
29	Indianola	16,415	273	1,745
30	Creston	8,021	272	1,307
31	Centerville	5,579	263	1,315
32	Cedar Rapids	136,032	262	2,951
33	Clear Lake	7,775	252	1,884
34	DeWitt	5,371	250	1,248
35	Maquoketa	6,163	249	2,239
36	Muscatine	24,516	246	1,474
37	Mason City	27,815	224	2,546
38	Washington	7,490	222	2,091
39	Windsor Heights	5,051	220	4,829
40	Cherokee	5,026	213	543
41	Clive	17,633	209	1,375
42	Oelwein	6,065	209	765
43	Iowa Falls	5,266	201	1,769
44	Winterset	5,460	186	912
45	Grinnell	9,424	169	1,407
46	Ankeny	66,592	166	1,188
47	West Des Moines	68,345	165	1,879
48	Independence	6,286	161	820
49	Osceola	5,362	160	2,208
50	Ames	68,047	148	1,654

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.