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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Council Bluffs, IA has a Safety Score of 22/100 — higher crime than 78% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,873.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,317 of 2,957 US cities and #30 of 38 in Iowa.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Council Bluffs, IA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Council Bluffs, Iowa Safe?
Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, was a pivotal starting point for the Mormon Trail. This city of over 62,000 residents in Pottawattamie County has a rich railway history.
Council Bluffs has a safety score of 22/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,873.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Council Bluffs ranks #30 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #2317 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 22nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 78% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Council Bluffs is burglary, at 486.6 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Council Bluffs's total crime rate decreased by 18.3%, with violent crime declining 6.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Council Bluffs Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 262 | 420.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 3.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 45 | 72.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 44 | 70.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 171 | 274.6 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,527 | 2,452.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 303 | 486.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,018 | 1,634.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 206 | 330.8 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Council Bluffs vs Iowa Average
How does Council Bluffs's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Council Bluffs | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 420.8 | 350.8 | +20.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,452.3 | 2,046.4 | +19.8% |
| Murder Rate | 3.2 | 2.5 | +27.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,873.0 | 2,397.2 | +19.9% |
Council Bluffs Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Council Bluffs, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62,269 | 2,873.0 | 420.8 | 2,452.3 |
| 2023 | 62,214 | 3,516.9 | 451.7 | 3,065.2 |
| 2022 | 62,206 | 3,424.1 | 422.8 | 3,001.3 |
| 2021 | 62,202 | 3,779.6 | 360.1 | 3,419.5 |
| 2020 | 62,144 | 5,712.5 | 923.7 | 4,788.9 |
| 2019 | 62,427 | 6,635.0 | 789.7 | 5,845.2 |
Council Bluffs Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs, Iowa safe?
Council Bluffs has a safety score of 22/100, meaning it has less crime than about 22% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,873.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Council Bluffs is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Council Bluffs has a violent crime rate of 420.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,452.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Council Bluffs compare to the national average?
Council Bluffs's total crime rate of 2,873.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 62,269 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Council Bluffs?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Council Bluffs are larceny-theft (1,018 reported incidents) and burglary (303 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.8x in the city.
Is Council Bluffs safe to visit?
Like any city, Council Bluffs has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 22/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.