Is Los Angeles or Urbandale Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Urbandale is safer than Los Angeles (Safety Score 84/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 726 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles — 67% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Urbandale has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 80.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Urbandale — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Urbandale, IA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Urbandale | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 725.8 | +1,486.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 91.3 | +637.3 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 0.0 | +7.0 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 10.6 | +29.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 2.1 | +207.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 76.4 | +395.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 634.6 | +849.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 82.8 | +290.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 411.7 | +439.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 140.1 | +119.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Urbandale safer?
Urbandale is safer with a total crime rate of 726 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles — a 67% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Urbandale has 91.3. Urbandale has lower violent crime.
About Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Urbandale, IA
Urbandale, a Des Moines suburb, was once home to the Hawkeye Six, an early Iowa interurban line. Its population of over 45,000 residents enjoys a blend of residential areas and commercial developments. With a safety score of 84/100 and a population coverage of 47,119, Urbandale has a total crime rate of 725.8 per 100,000 residents.