Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Altoona, IA has a Safety Score of 37/100 — higher crime than 63% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,154.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,873 of 2,957 US cities and #26 of 38 in Iowa.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Altoona, IA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Altoona, Iowa Safe?
Altoona, Iowa, a Des Moines suburb, is home to Adventureland Park. This growing city in Polk County has a population of over 20,000.
Altoona has a safety score of 37/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,154.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Altoona ranks #26 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #1873 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 37th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 63% of US cities.
Year over year, Altoona's total crime rate increased by 4.2%, with violent crime declining 5.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Altoona Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 32 | 142.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 2 | 8.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 3 | 13.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 27 | 120.4 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 451 | 2,011.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 26 | 116.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 398 | 1,775.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 27 | 120.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Altoona vs Iowa Average
How does Altoona's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Altoona | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 142.7 | 350.8 | -59.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,011.4 | 2,046.4 | -1.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,154.1 | 2,397.2 | -10.1% |
Altoona Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Altoona, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22,422 | 2,154.1 | 142.7 | 2,011.4 |
| 2023 | 22,492 | 2,067.4 | 151.2 | 1,916.2 |
| 2022 | 21,830 | 1,722.4 | 197.0 | 1,525.4 |
| 2021 | 20,064 | 2,178.0 | 274.1 | 1,903.9 |
| 2020 | 19,804 | 2,499.5 | 277.7 | 2,221.8 |
| 2019 | 19,441 | 2,474.2 | 128.6 | 2,345.6 |
Altoona Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Altoona and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Iowa crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Altoona, Iowa safe?
Altoona has a safety score of 37/100, meaning it has less crime than about 37% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,154.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Altoona is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Altoona, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Altoona has a violent crime rate of 142.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,011.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Altoona compare to the national average?
Altoona's total crime rate of 2,154.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 22,422 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Altoona?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Altoona are larceny-theft (398 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (27 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 14.1x in the city.
Is Altoona safe to visit?
Like any city, Altoona has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 37/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.