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.

Clinton Population: 25,290 788 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.16 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,394

Clinton, IA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Iowa with 788 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (595), robbery (66), rape (115) and homicide (12) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 182% 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: 215,408 707 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,056

The second most dangerous city is Des Moines. With a population of 215,408 and a violent crime rate that is 153% 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 707 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 141 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Davenport Population: 102,199 691 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 145 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,501

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 691 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.89 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 147% higher than the Iowa violent crime rate.

Fort Dodge Population: 24,168 684 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 146 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,019

With a violent crime rate that is 144% higher than the Iowa average, it's not hard to see why Fort Dodge made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (45), assault (505), rape (110) and homicide (24). 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 Fort Dodge more vulnerable to high crime.

Waverly Population: 10,172 652 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 153 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,645

The ongoing battle with crime in Waverly, 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 652 and a 1 in 153 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Waverly has a violent crime rate that is 133% 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 Waverly.

Waterloo Population: 67,671 575 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,666

Waterloo, IA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 575 per 100,000 people, which is 106% higher than the Iowa average. Waterloo has a population of 67,671, which translates to 1.58 crimes per day and 1 in 174 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.

Sioux City Population: 82,535 572 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 175 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,125

A 1 in 175 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.57 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Sioux City makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 572 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 104% higher than the Iowa average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (385), robbery (93), rape (87) and homicide (7).

Burlington Population: 24,858 550 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,822

Burlington, IA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Iowa and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 24,858 and a violent crime rate of 550 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 482 counts of assault, 34 counts of robbery, 34 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Burlington violent crime rate is 96% higher than the Iowa average.

Knoxville Population: 7,154 514 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 195 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,975

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, Knoxville, IA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Iowa with a violent crime rate of 514 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.41 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 195 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Centerville Population: 5,433 494 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 202 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,622

Rounding out our list at #10 is Centerville, IA. With a population of 5,433 and a violent crime rate of 494 per 100,000 people (76% higher than the Iowa average), some parts of Centerville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 418 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 76 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 202 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	Clinton	25,290	788	3,394
2	Des Moines	215,408	707	4,056
3	Davenport	102,199	691	4,501
4	Fort Dodge	24,168	684	4,019
5	Waverly	10,172	652	1,645
6	Waterloo	67,671	575	2,666
7	Sioux City	82,535	572	4,125
8	Burlington	24,858	550	2,822
9	Knoxville	7,154	514	1,975
10	Centerville	5,433	494	2,622
11	Oelwein	5,896	483	1,035
12	Algona	5,415	469	638
13	Marshalltown	26,957	464	2,445
14	Keokuk	10,225	453	2,612
15	Council Bluffs	62,376	448	3,514
16	Hiawatha	7,395	448	1,944
17	Iowa Falls	5,067	444	2,644
18	Sheldon	5,178	441	1,248
19	Dubuque	58,052	426	2,048
20	Manchester	5,011	420	2,960
21	Atlantic	6,600	414	2,174
22	Ottumwa	24,505	403	3,442
23	Red Oak	5,323	402	2,082
24	Perry	7,660	396	1,362
25	DeWitt	5,215	379	1,841
26	Washington	7,318	373	2,857
27	Clear Lake	7,594	362	2,399
28	Iowa City	75,849	353	2,249
29	Fort Madison	10,407	339	2,529
30	Le Mars	10,012	330	1,018
31	Estherville	5,729	329	728
32	Newton	15,160	326	1,622
33	Creston	7,754	315	1,491
34	Muscatine	23,661	314	1,488
35	Storm Lake	10,508	300	1,906
36	Cedar Rapids	133,125	300	3,185
37	Charles City	7,351	265	1,339
38	Oskaloosa	11,727	253	1,336
39	Clive	17,246	252	1,534
40	Glenwood	5,325	251	1,100
41	Indianola	15,921	241	2,040
42	Anamosa	5,484	234	774
43	Marion	39,910	233	864
44	Maquoketa	5,990	232	2,242
45	Mount Pleasant	8,574	231	1,565
46	Osceola	5,160	213	1,896
47	Webster City	7,699	207	1,282
48	Clarinda	5,371	206	1,478
49	Mason City	27,064	202	3,192
50	Grinnell	9,069	201	1,531

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.