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Cedar Rapids vs Council Bluffs Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cedar Rapids crime rate · Council Bluffs crime rate

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Is Cedar Rapids or Council Bluffs Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Council Bluffs is safer than Cedar Rapids (Safety Score 22/100 vs 20/100), with a total crime rate of 2,873 per 100,000 versus 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — 3% lower. Cedar Rapids has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Cedar Rapids has a 77% lower rate.

Note: Cedar Rapids is 2.2x 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 SAFER than Cedar Rapids, IA?

Cedar Rapids — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Council Bluffs — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA
Safety Score 20/100
Coverage 135,363
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3
Category Wins 5/7

Council Bluffs, IA

Council Bluffs, IA
Safety Score 22/100
Coverage 62,269
Total Crime Rate 2,873.0
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cedar Rapids Council Bluffs Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3 2,873.0 +78.3
Violent Crime Rate 262.3 420.8 -158.5
Murder Rate 0.7 3.2 -2.5
Rape Rate 11.1 72.3 -61.2
Robbery Rate 30.3 70.7 -40.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 219.4 274.6 -55.2
Property Crime Rate 2,689.1 2,452.3 +236.8
Burglary Rate 274.1 486.6 -212.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,203.0 1,634.8 +568.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 212.0 330.8 -118.8

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

Moving from Cedar Rapids, IA to Council Bluffs, 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 Cedar Rapids or Council Bluffs safer?

Council Bluffs is safer with a total crime rate of 2,873 per 100K vs 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — a 3% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cedar Rapids has a violent crime rate of 262.3 per 100K while Council Bluffs has 420.8. Cedar Rapids has lower violent crime.

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.

About Council Bluffs, IA

Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, was a pivotal starting point for the Mormon Trail. This city of over 62,000 residents in Pottawattamie County has a rich railway history. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 62,269, Council Bluffs has a total crime rate of 2,873.0 per 100,000 residents.

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