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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Iowa City, IA has a Safety Score of 41/100 — higher crime than 59% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,995.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,754 of 2,957 US cities and #24 of 38 in Iowa.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Iowa City, IA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Iowa City, Iowa Safe?
Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa and its renowned Writers' Workshop, sits along the Iowa River. This vibrant Midwestern city in Johnson County boasts a diverse population, including a significant student presence.
Iowa City has a safety score of 41/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,995.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Iowa City ranks #24 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #1754 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 41st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 59% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Iowa City is rape, at 54.0 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Iowa City's total crime rate decreased by 11.4%, with violent crime declining 9.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 244 | 321.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 41 | 54.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 38 | 50.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 165 | 217.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,271 | 1,673.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 119 | 156.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,055 | 1,389.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 97 | 127.7 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Iowa City vs Iowa Average
How does Iowa City's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Iowa City | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 321.3 | 350.8 | -8.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,673.8 | 2,046.4 | -18.2% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,995.2 | 2,397.2 | -16.8% |
Iowa City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Iowa City, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75,934 | 1,995.2 | 321.3 | 1,673.8 |
| 2023 | 75,396 | 2,250.8 | 354.1 | 1,896.7 |
| 2022 | 74,749 | 2,077.6 | 279.6 | 1,798.0 |
| 2021 | 77,522 | 1,931.1 | 313.5 | 1,617.6 |
| 2020 | 75,964 | 1,973.3 | 202.7 | 1,770.6 |
| 2019 | 77,390 | 1,833.6 | 215.8 | 1,617.8 |
Iowa City Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Iowa City 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 Iowa City, Iowa safe?
Iowa City has a safety score of 41/100, meaning it has less crime than about 41% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,995.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Iowa City is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Iowa City, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Iowa City has a violent crime rate of 321.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,673.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average?
Iowa City's total crime rate of 1,995.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 75,934 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Iowa City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Iowa City are larceny-theft (1,055 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (165 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.2x in the city.
Is Iowa City safe to visit?
Like any city, Iowa City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 41/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.