Safest Cities in Iowa 2024
Average Crime Rate
National Average
Combined Population
Overview: Safest Cities in Iowa
These 18 cities have the lowest crime rates in Iowa, based on 2024 FBI data. The safest cities average just 2,215 crimes per 100,000 residents — 20% below the national average of 2,752.
The top 3 safest cities are Marion (IA, crime rate: 620), Urbandale (IA, crime rate: 726), and Waukee (IA, crime rate: 782).
Full Rankings
| # | City | State | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion | IA | 42,420 | 620.0 | 122.6 | 497.4 | 88/100 |
| 2 | Urbandale | IA | 47,119 | 725.8 | 91.3 | 634.6 | 86/100 |
| 3 | Waukee | IA | 34,520 | 782.2 | 142.0 | 640.2 | 85/100 |
| 4 | Bettendorf | IA | 40,105 | 974.9 | 107.2 | 867.7 | 82/100 |
| 5 | Ankeny | IA | 76,547 | 1,187.5 | 165.9 | 1,021.6 | 78/100 |
| 6 | Ames | IA | 65,426 | 1,653.8 | 148.3 | 1,505.5 | 69/100 |
| 7 | Dubuque | IA | 58,620 | 1,835.6 | 400.9 | 1,434.7 | 66/100 |
| 8 | West Des Moines | IA | 73,334 | 1,879.1 | 165.0 | 1,714.1 | 65/100 |
| 9 | Iowa City | IA | 75,934 | 1,995.2 | 321.3 | 1,673.8 | 63/100 |
| 10 | Marshalltown | IA | 27,576 | 2,070.6 | 297.4 | 1,773.3 | 62/100 |
| 11 | Mason City | IA | 26,786 | 2,546.1 | 224.0 | 2,322.1 | 53/100 |
| 12 | Council Bluffs | IA | 62,269 | 2,873.0 | 420.8 | 2,452.3 | 47/100 |
| 13 | Waterloo | IA | 66,385 | 2,920.8 | 476.0 | 2,444.8 | 46/100 |
| 14 | Cedar Rapids | IA | 135,363 | 2,951.3 | 262.3 | 2,689.1 | 46/100 |
| 15 | Ottumwa | IA | 25,185 | 3,013.7 | 397.1 | 2,616.6 | 45/100 |
| 16 | Des Moines | IA | 209,245 | 3,831.4 | 704.9 | 3,126.5 | 30/100 |
| 17 | Sioux City | IA | 85,711 | 3,881.7 | 557.7 | 3,324.0 | 29/100 |
| 18 | Davenport | IA | 99,926 | 4,123.1 | 582.4 | 3,540.6 | 25/100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in Iowa?
Marion, IA is the safest city in Iowa with a total crime rate of 620.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024.
How are the safest cities determined?
Cities are ranked by total crime rate (violent + property crime) per 100,000 residents using 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data. Only cities with 25,000+ residents are included.
What crime rate is considered safe?
Cities on this list average 2,215 crimes per 100,000 residents, well below the national average of 2,752. Generally, a rate under 2,000 per 100K is considered low.