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Cedar Rapids vs Waterloo Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cedar Rapids crime rate · Waterloo crime rate

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Is Cedar Rapids or Waterloo Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Waterloo is safer than Cedar Rapids (Safety Score 21/100 vs 20/100), with a total crime rate of 2,921 per 100,000 versus 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — 1% lower. Cedar Rapids has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Cedar Rapids has a 84% lower rate.

Note: Cedar Rapids is 2.0x 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

Waterloo — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids, IA
Safety Score 20/100
Coverage 135,363
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3
Category Wins 4/7

Waterloo, IA

Waterloo, IA
Safety Score 21/100
Coverage 66,385
Total Crime Rate 2,920.8
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cedar Rapids Waterloo Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,951.3 2,920.8 +30.5
Violent Crime Rate 262.3 476.0 -213.8
Murder Rate 0.7 4.5 -3.8
Rape Rate 11.1 39.2 -28.1
Robbery Rate 30.3 34.7 -4.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 219.4 397.7 -178.3
Property Crime Rate 2,689.1 2,444.8 +244.2
Burglary Rate 274.1 586.0 -311.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,203.0 1,658.5 +544.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 212.0 200.4 +11.7

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

Moving from Cedar Rapids, IA to Waterloo, 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 Waterloo safer?

Waterloo is safer with a total crime rate of 2,921 per 100K vs 2,951 for Cedar Rapids — a 1% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cedar Rapids has a violent crime rate of 262.3 per 100K while Waterloo has 476.0. 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 Waterloo, IA

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. With a safety score of 21/100 and a population coverage of 66,385, Waterloo has a total crime rate of 2,920.8 per 100,000 residents.

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