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Ames vs Cedar Rapids Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Ames crime rate · Cedar Rapids crime rate

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Is Ames or Cedar Rapids Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Ames is safer than Cedar Rapids (Safety Score 51/100 vs 20/100), with a total crime rate of 1,654 per 100,000 versus 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — 44% lower. Ames has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Ames has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Cedar Rapids is 2.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Ames, IA?

Ames — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cedar Rapids — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Ames, IA

Ames, IA
Safety Score 51/100
Coverage 65,426
Total Crime Rate 1,653.8
Category Wins 7/7

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA
Safety Score 20/100
Coverage 135,363
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Ames Cedar Rapids Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,653.8 2,951.3 -1,297.5
Violent Crime Rate 148.3 262.3 -114.0
Murder Rate 0.0 0.7 -0.7
Rape Rate 70.3 11.1 +59.2
Robbery Rate 7.6 30.3 -22.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 70.3 219.4 -149.1
Property Crime Rate 1,505.5 2,689.1 -1,183.6
Burglary Rate 172.7 274.1 -101.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,244.2 2,203.0 -958.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 88.7 212.0 -123.4

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Ames, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ames or Cedar Rapids safer?

Ames is safer with a total crime rate of 1,654 per 100K vs 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — a 44% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Ames has a violent crime rate of 148.3 per 100K while Cedar Rapids has 262.3. Ames has lower violent crime.

About Ames, IA

Ames, Iowa, home to Iowa State University, is a city in Story County. This community in central Iowa has a significant student population, contributing to its vibrant academic atmosphere. With a safety score of 51/100 and a population coverage of 65,426, Ames has a total crime rate of 1,653.8 per 100,000 residents.

About Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city bisected by the Cedar River, boasts a vibrant Czech Village reflecting its immigrant history. It is the second-largest city in Iowa, with a population approaching 140,000. With a safety score of 20/100 and a population coverage of 135,363, Cedar Rapids has a total crime rate of 2,951.3 per 100,000 residents.

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