Top 10 most dangerous cities in Iowa

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.

Indianola Population: 15,921 879 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,586

Indianola, IA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Iowa with 879 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (721), robbery (0), rape (158) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 207% 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.

Clinton Population: 25,290 863 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 116 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,598

The second most dangerous city is Clinton. With a population of 25,290 and a violent crime rate that is 201% higher than the Iowa average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Clinton are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 863 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 116 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Grinnell Population: 9,069 813 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,755

Home to 9,069 residents, Grinnell, IA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Iowa. Unfortunately for residents of Grinnell, crime is widespread, with more than 813 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.23 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 184% higher than the Iowa violent crime rate.

Iowa Falls Population: 5,067 796 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 126 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,389

With a violent crime rate that is 178% higher than the Iowa average, it's not hard to see why Iowa Falls made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (20), assault (657), rape (119) and homicide (0). 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 Iowa Falls more vulnerable to high crime.

Ottumwa Population: 24,505 776 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,452

The ongoing battle with crime in Ottumwa, 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 776 and a 1 in 129 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Ottumwa has a violent crime rate that is 171% 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 Ottumwa.

Keokuk Population: 10,225 732 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 137 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,876

Keokuk, IA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 732 per 100,000 people, which is 155% higher than the Iowa average. Keokuk has a population of 10,225, which translates to 2.00 crimes per day and 1 in 137 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 Keokuk which are much safer than others.

Clear Lake Population: 7,594 707 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,586

A 1 in 142 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.94 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Clear Lake makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 707 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 147% higher than the Iowa average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (587), robbery (40), rape (80) and homicide (0).

Davenport Population: 102,199 698 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 143 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,179

Davenport, IA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Iowa and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 102,199 and a violent crime rate of 698 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 505 counts of assault, 97 counts of robbery, 93 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the Davenport violent crime rate is 144% higher than the Iowa average.

DeWitt Population: 5,215 687 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 145 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,623

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, DeWitt, IA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Iowa with a violent crime rate of 687 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.88 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 145 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Waverly Population: 10,172 661 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 151 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,733

Rounding out our list at #10 is Waverly, IA. With a population of 10,172 and a violent crime rate of 661 per 100,000 people (131% higher than the Iowa average), some parts of Waverly are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 594 counts of assault, 10 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 151 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	Indianola	15,921	879	2,586
2	Clinton	25,290	863	4,598
3	Grinnell	9,069	813	2,755
4	Iowa Falls	5,067	796	2,389
5	Ottumwa	24,505	776	4,452
6	Keokuk	10,225	732	2,876
7	Clear Lake	7,594	707	2,586
8	Davenport	102,199	698	4,179
9	DeWitt	5,215	687	2,623
10	Waverly	10,172	661	1,733
11	Marshalltown	26,957	658	2,415
12	Burlington	24,858	587	4,277
13	Waterloo	67,671	579	3,072
14	Fort Dodge	24,168	518	3,514
15	Sioux City	82,535	515	3,453
16	Knoxville	7,154	502	2,281
17	Dubuque	58,052	472	2,265
18	Atlantic	6,600	461	2,230
19	Perry	7,660	451	1,165
20	Newton	15,160	443	1,793
21	Osceola	5,160	442	1,839
22	Oskaloosa	11,727	436	1,612
23	Mount Pleasant	8,574	424	1,708
24	Council Bluffs	62,376	421	3,423
25	Washington	7,318	416	2,303
26	Oelwein	5,896	397	1,123
27	Charles City	7,351	388	1,428
28	Clarinda	5,371	364	1,364
29	Red Oak	5,323	359	1,904
30	Storm Lake	10,508	355	1,676
31	Muscatine	23,661	353	1,980
32	Creston	7,754	350	1,533
33	Glenwood	5,325	346	1,232
34	Algona	5,415	342	552
35	Denison	8,319	335	1,168
36	Maquoketa	5,990	331	2,254
37	Hiawatha	7,395	324	2,391
38	Cedar Rapids	133,125	320	3,367
39	Sheldon	5,178	316	1,114
40	Fort Madison	10,407	307	2,390
41	Mason City	27,064	292	2,967
42	Manchester	5,011	292	1,909
43	Coralville	21,630	284	2,912
44	Centerville	5,433	283	2,376
45	Fairfield	10,327	280	1,670
46	Spirit Lake	5,130	275	2,148
47	Le Mars	10,012	275	1,155
48	Clive	17,246	269	1,338
49	Iowa City	75,849	264	2,039
50	West Des Moines	66,724	249	1,967

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.