Is Urbandale or Vestavia Hills Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Urbandale is safer than Vestavia Hills (Safety Score 84/100 vs 84/100), with a total crime rate of 726 per 100,000 versus 728 for Vestavia Hills — 0% lower. Urbandale has higher rates in 2 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Vestavia Hills has a 100% lower rate.
Urbandale — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Vestavia Hills — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Urbandale, IA
Vestavia Hills, AL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Urbandale | Vestavia Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 725.8 | 727.6 | -1.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 91.3 | 82.3 | +8.9 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 10.6 | 15.9 | -5.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 2.1 | 0.0 | +2.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 76.4 | 66.4 | +10.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 634.6 | 645.3 | -10.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 82.8 | 63.7 | +19.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 411.7 | 533.8 | -122.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 140.1 | 47.8 | +92.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Urbandale or Vestavia Hills safer?
Urbandale is safer with a total crime rate of 726 per 100K vs 728 for Vestavia Hills — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Urbandale has a violent crime rate of 91.3 per 100K while Vestavia Hills has 82.3. Vestavia Hills has lower violent crime.
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.
About Vestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills, an affluent Birmingham suburb, grew significantly after WWII. It's known for its Vestavia Temple replica and sits atop Shades Mountain, primarily home to well-educated professionals. With a safety score of 84/100 and a population coverage of 37,658, Vestavia Hills has a total crime rate of 727.6 per 100,000 residents.