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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Mason City, IA has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,546.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,140 of 2,957 US cities and #29 of 38 in Iowa.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Mason City, IA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Mason City, Iowa Safe?
Mason City, Iowa, a regional hub in north-central Iowa, is known for its Prairie School architecture, including a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house. Its population of around 27,000 resides amidst fertile agricultural land.
Mason City has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,546.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Mason City ranks #29 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #2140 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Mason City is rape, at 100.8 per 100K — 2.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Mason City's total crime rate decreased by 20.2%, with violent crime rising 11%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mason City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 60 | 224.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 27 | 100.8 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 4 | 14.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 29 | 108.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 622 | 2,322.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 84 | 313.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 519 | 1,937.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 19 | 70.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Mason City vs Iowa Average
How does Mason City's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Mason City | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.0 | 350.8 | -36.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,322.1 | 2,046.4 | +13.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,546.1 | 2,397.2 | +6.2% |
Mason City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Mason City, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26,786 | 2,546.1 | 224.0 | 2,322.1 |
| 2023 | 26,754 | 3,192.1 | 201.8 | 2,990.2 |
| 2022 | 27,032 | 2,970.6 | 292.3 | 2,678.3 |
| 2021 | 26,550 | 3,250.5 | 406.8 | 2,843.7 |
| 2020 | 26,811 | 3,610.5 | 425.2 | 3,185.3 |
| 2019 | 26,976 | 3,577.3 | 652.4 | 2,924.8 |
Mason City Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Mason 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 Mason City, Iowa safe?
Mason City has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,546.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Mason City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Mason City, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Mason City has a violent crime rate of 224.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,322.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Mason City compare to the national average?
Mason City's total crime rate of 2,546.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 26,786 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Mason City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Mason City are larceny-theft (519 reported incidents) and burglary (84 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 10.4x in the city.
Is Mason City safe to visit?
Like any city, Mason City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.