IA · 3 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Iowa
Iowa recorded 238 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 28% below the national rate and down 19% since 2022. We cover Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
DavenportFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Iowa, ranked
The 3 Iowa cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 3 of 3 run above the state average of 238. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | 651 | 3,177 | 100,761 |
| 2 | Des Moines | 642 | 2,838 | 212,933 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | 265 | 2,136 | 137,918 |
| Iowa average | 238 | 1,205 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Iowa crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Iowa?
Of the 3 Iowa cities in our ranking, Davenport has the highest violent crime rate: 651 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.7 times the state average. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids come next. Even in Davenport, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Davenport guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Iowa?
Among the cities we rank, Cedar Rapids has the lowest violent crime rate, at 265 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 12% above the state average. Des Moines follows with 642. All 3 are large cities with rates above the Iowa average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Iowa safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Iowa recorded 238 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 28% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 3 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Iowa cities have above-average crime?
3 of the 3 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Iowa average of 238 per 100,000 residents: Davenport, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Iowa?
Violent crime in Iowa went from 296 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 238 in 2025, down 19%. Property crime went from 1,451 to 1,205 over 2022–2025, down 17%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.