Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Urbandale, IA has a Safety Score of 84/100 — safer than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 725.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #470 of 2,971 US cities and #4 of 38 in Iowa.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Urbandale, Iowa Safe?
Urbandale, a Des Moines suburb, was once home to the Hawkeye Six, an early Iowa interurban line. Its population of over 45,000 residents enjoys a blend of residential areas and commercial developments.
Urbandale has a safety score of 84/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 725.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Urbandale ranks #4 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #470 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 84th percentile for safety — safer than 84% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Urbandale are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Urbandale's total crime rate decreased by 12.6%, with violent crime declining 30.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 43 | 91.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 5 | 10.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 2.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 36 | 76.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 299 | 634.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 39 | 82.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 194 | 411.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 66 | 140.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Urbandale vs Iowa Average
How does Urbandale's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Urbandale | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 91.3 | 350.8 | -74.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 634.6 | 2,046.4 | -69.0% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 725.8 | 2,397.2 | -69.7% |
Urbandale Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Urbandale, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47,119 | 725.8 | 91.3 | 634.6 |
| 2023 | 47,192 | 830.7 | 131.4 | 699.3 |
| 2022 | 46,284 | 799.4 | 108.0 | 691.4 |
| 2021 | 45,201 | 1,022.1 | 117.3 | 904.9 |
| 2020 | 44,959 | 1,141.0 | 104.5 | 1,036.5 |
| 2019 | 44,541 | 1,084.4 | 62.9 | 1,021.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Urbandale, Iowa safe?
Urbandale has a safety score of 84/100, meaning it has less crime than about 84% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 725.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Urbandale is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Urbandale, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Urbandale has a violent crime rate of 91.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 634.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Urbandale compare to the national average?
Urbandale's total crime rate of 725.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 47,119 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Urbandale?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Urbandale include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Urbandale safe to visit?
Like any city, Urbandale has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 84/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.