Share

Des Moines, WA vs Tacoma, WA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Des Moines crime rate · Tacoma crime rate

Moving from Des Moines, WA to Tacoma, WA?

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.

Get the planner →

Is Des Moines, WA or Tacoma, WA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Des Moines, WA is safer than Tacoma, WA (Safety Score 17/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 3,146 per 100,000 versus 6,667 for Tacoma, WA — 53% lower. Des Moines has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Des Moines has a 72% lower rate.

Note: Tacoma is 7.1x 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 SAFER than Des Moines, WA?

Des Moines — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Tacoma — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Des Moines, WA

Des Moines, WA
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 31,694
Total Crime Rate 3,145.7
Category Wins 7/7

Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 223,980
Total Crime Rate 6,666.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Des Moines Tacoma Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,145.7 6,666.7 -3,521.0
Violent Crime Rate 296.6 1,063.0 -766.5
Murder Rate 3.2 9.8 -6.7
Rape Rate 28.4 67.9 -39.5
Robbery Rate 104.1 184.4 -80.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 160.9 801.0 -640.1
Property Crime Rate 2,849.1 5,603.6 -2,754.5
Burglary Rate 214.6 669.7 -455.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,927.8 3,521.3 -1,593.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 706.8 1,412.6 -705.9

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

Moving from Des Moines, WA to Tacoma, WA?

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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Des Moines or Tacoma safer?

Des Moines, WA is safer with a total crime rate of 3,146 per 100K vs 6,667 for Tacoma, WA — a 53% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 296.6 per 100K while Tacoma has 1,063.0. Des Moines has lower violent crime.

About Des Moines, WA

Des Moines, Washington, a Puget Sound city, was once a popular resort town. Today, its waterfront views and proximity to Seattle attract a diverse population. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 31,694, Des Moines has a total crime rate of 3,145.7 per 100,000 residents.

About Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, nestled on Commencement Bay, boasts a rich industrial past, once a major port for timber and rail. Today, this diverse city, home to over 200,000 residents, features a vibrant arts scene and stunning views of Mount Rainier. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 223,980, Tacoma has a total crime rate of 6,666.7 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons