Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Waterloo, IA has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,359 of 2,971 US cities and #31 of 38 in Iowa.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Waterloo, Iowa Safe?
Waterloo, Iowa, a city in Black Hawk County, was once a hub for the Illinois Central Railroad. Situated along the Cedar River, its population is diverse, with a notable African American community.
Waterloo has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Waterloo ranks #31 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #2359 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 21st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 79% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Waterloo is burglary, at 586.0 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Waterloo's total crime rate increased by 9.6%, with violent crime declining 17.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 316 | 476.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 26 | 39.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 23 | 34.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 264 | 397.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,623 | 2,444.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 389 | 586.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,101 | 1,658.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 133 | 200.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Waterloo vs Iowa Average
How does Waterloo's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Waterloo | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 476.0 | 350.8 | +35.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,444.8 | 2,046.4 | +19.5% |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 2.5 | +80.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,920.8 | 2,397.2 | +21.8% |
Waterloo Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Waterloo, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66,385 | 2,920.8 | 476.0 | 2,444.8 |
| 2023 | 66,211 | 2,665.7 | 575.4 | 2,090.3 |
| 2022 | 66,504 | 3,081.0 | 575.9 | 2,505.1 |
| 2021 | 67,174 | 3,161.9 | 538.9 | 2,623.0 |
| 2020 | 67,200 | 3,269.4 | 636.9 | 2,632.4 |
| 2019 | 67,723 | 2,935.5 | 451.8 | 2,483.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waterloo, Iowa safe?
Waterloo has a safety score of 21/100, meaning it has less crime than about 21% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Waterloo is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Waterloo, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Waterloo has a violent crime rate of 476.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,444.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Waterloo compare to the national average?
Waterloo's total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 66,385 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Waterloo?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Waterloo include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Waterloo safe to visit?
Like any city, Waterloo has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 21/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.