Is Des Moines or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Des Moines (Safety Score 19/100 vs 10/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,831 for Des Moines — 21% lower. Des Moines has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Des Moines has a 60% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 39.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Des Moines — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Des Moines, IA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Des Moines | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,831.4 | 3,039.7 | +791.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 704.9 | 671.4 | +33.5 |
| Murder Rate | 4.3 | 3.9 | +0.4 |
| Rape Rate | 51.1 | 23.4 | +27.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 75.0 | 187.5 | -112.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 572.5 | 456.2 | +116.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,126.5 | 2,368.3 | +758.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 462.6 | 154.7 | +307.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,142.0 | 2,015.0 | +127.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 521.9 | 198.5 | +323.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Moines or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,831 for Des Moines — a 21% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 704.9 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, Iowa's capital, sits on the Des Moines River. It's known for its thriving insurance industry and has a growing population, with a median age in the mid-30s. With a safety score of 10/100 and a population coverage of 209,245, Des Moines has a total crime rate of 3,831.4 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.