Is Cedar Rapids or Newton Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Newton is safer than Cedar Rapids (Safety Score 47/100 vs 20/100), with a total crime rate of 1,774 per 100,000 versus 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — 40% lower. Cedar Rapids has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Newton has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Cedar Rapids is 8.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Cedar Rapids — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Newton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cedar Rapids, IA
Newton, IA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cedar Rapids | Newton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,951.3 | 1,774.4 | +1,176.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.3 | 384.3 | -122.1 |
| Murder Rate | 0.7 | 0.0 | +0.7 |
| Rape Rate | 11.1 | 89.7 | -78.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 30.3 | 25.6 | +4.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 219.4 | 269.0 | -49.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,689.1 | 1,390.1 | +1,299.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 274.1 | 249.8 | +24.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,203.0 | 1,076.2 | +1,126.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 212.0 | 64.1 | +148.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cedar Rapids or Newton safer?
Newton is safer with a total crime rate of 1,774 per 100K vs 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — a 40% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cedar Rapids has a violent crime rate of 262.3 per 100K while Newton has 384.3. 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 Newton, IA
Newton, Iowa, a city in Jasper County, is known as the former home of Maytag. Located east of Des Moines, its population was 15,760 as of the 2020 census. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 15,611, Newton has a total crime rate of 1,774.4 per 100,000 residents.