Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Spencer, IA has a Safety Score of 73/100 — safer than 73% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,043.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #803 of 2,957 US cities and #13 of 38 in Iowa.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Spencer, IA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Spencer, Iowa Safe?
Spencer, Iowa, a town of around 11,000 residents in Clay County, is known for its annual Clay County Fair, one of the largest in the nation. Situated along the Little Sioux River, it serves as a regional hub for agriculture and commerce in northwest Iowa.
Spencer has a safety score of 73/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,043.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Spencer ranks #13 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #803 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 73rd percentile for safety — safer than 73% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Spencer are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Spencer's total crime rate decreased by 16.3%, with violent crime declining 45.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Spencer Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 6 | 52.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 3 | 26.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 2 | 17.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1 | 8.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 114 | 991.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 11 | 95.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 103 | 895.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Spencer vs Iowa Average
How does Spencer's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Spencer | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 52.2 | 350.8 | -85.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 991.2 | 2,046.4 | -51.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,043.4 | 2,397.2 | -56.5% |
Spencer Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Spencer, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,501 | 1,043.4 | 52.2 | 991.2 |
| 2023 | 11,468 | 1,247.0 | 95.9 | 1,151.0 |
| 2022 | 11,440 | 1,127.6 | 122.4 | 1,005.2 |
| 2021 | 10,966 | 1,395.2 | 109.4 | 1,285.8 |
| 2020 | 10,922 | 2,380.5 | 183.1 | 2,197.4 |
| 2019 | 11,008 | 1,726.0 | 63.6 | 1,662.4 |
Spencer Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Spencer 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 Spencer, Iowa safe?
Spencer has a safety score of 73/100, meaning it has less crime than about 73% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,043.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Spencer is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Spencer, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Spencer has a violent crime rate of 52.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 991.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Spencer compare to the national average?
Spencer's total crime rate of 1,043.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,501 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Spencer?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Spencer are larceny-theft (103 reported incidents) and burglary (11 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 19.0x in the city.
Is Spencer safe to visit?
Like any city, Spencer has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 73/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.