Moving from Sioux City, IA to West Des Moines, 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.
Is Sioux City or West Des Moines Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, West Des Moines is safer than Sioux City (Safety Score 44/100 vs 9/100), with a total crime rate of 1,879 per 100,000 versus 3,882 for Sioux City — 52% lower. Sioux City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where West Des Moines has a 100% lower rate.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Sioux City, IA?
Sioux City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
West Des Moines — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Sioux City, IA
West Des Moines, IA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Sioux City | West Des Moines | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,881.7 | 1,879.1 | +2,002.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 557.7 | 165.0 | +392.7 |
| Murder Rate | 3.5 | 0.0 | +3.5 |
| Rape Rate | 84.0 | 21.8 | +62.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 95.7 | 12.3 | +83.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 372.2 | 130.9 | +241.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,324.0 | 1,714.1 | +1,609.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 474.9 | 114.5 | +360.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,555.1 | 1,471.4 | +1,083.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 294.0 | 128.2 | +165.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Sioux City, IA to West Des Moines, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sioux City or West Des Moines safer?
West Des Moines is safer with a total crime rate of 1,879 per 100K vs 3,882 for Sioux City — a 52% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Sioux City has a violent crime rate of 557.7 per 100K while West Des Moines has 165.0. West Des Moines has lower violent crime.
About Sioux City, IA
Sioux City, Iowa, sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers, a historic hub of the meatpacking industry. It's the largest city in western Iowa, with a diverse population reflecting its industrial past. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 85,711, Sioux City has a total crime rate of 3,881.7 per 100,000 residents.
About West Des Moines, IA
West Des Moines is a vibrant suburb of Iowa's capital, known for its strong financial sector and Jordan Creek Town Center. This affluent community, once a railway stop, lies just west of Des Moines, primarily in Polk County. With a safety score of 44/100 and a population coverage of 73,334, West Des Moines has a total crime rate of 1,879.1 per 100,000 residents.