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Safest Cities in Iowa — 2027 Rankings

Updated October 2026 · 41 cities ranked · Based on FBI UCR data

In the 2027 rankings, Le Mars is the safest city in Iowa with a crime rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents, earning a B safety grade. Pleasant Hill (19.2/1K) and Storm Lake (19.5/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 41 cities with FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

These 2027 rankings use 2023 FBI UCR data — the most recent available. Rankings will be updated as 2024 FBI data is released.

Avg Crime Rate
23.1per 1K
Avg Violent Crime
389per 100K
Avg Property Crime
1919per 100K

All 41 Cities Ranked by Safety (2027)

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Le Mars
B
18.8
2Pleasant Hill
B-
19.2
3Storm Lake
B-
19.5
4Carroll
B-
19.6
5Norwalk
B-
19.8
6Boone
B-
20.1
7Johnston
B-
20.6
8Clive
B-
21.3
9Waterloo
B-
21.4
10Waverly
B-
21.4
11Dubuque
B-
21.6
12Ottumwa
B-
21.6
13Spencer
B-
21.6
14Ames
B-
21.9
15Burlington
B-
22.1
16Clinton
B-
22.3
17West Des Moines
B-
22.4
18Grimes
B-
23
19Mason City
C+
23.3
20Oskaloosa
C+
23.3
21Indianola
C+
23.9
22Marshalltown
C+
24
23Pella
C+
24
24Coralville
C+
24.1
25Marion
C+
24.3
26Newton
C+
24.3
27Fort Dodge
C+
24.5
28Cedar Rapids
C+
24.6
29Sioux City
C+
24.6
30North Liberty
C+
24.6
31Davenport
C+
24.7
32Iowa City
C+
24.8
33Cedar Falls
C+
24.9
34Altoona
C+
25
35Muscatine
C+
25.1
36Des Moines
C+
25.4
37Urbandale
C+
25.4
38Council Bluffs
C+
25.5
39Waukee
C+
25.6
40Ankeny
C+
25.8
41Bettendorf
C+
26.1

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. FBI Uniform Crime Report data projected for 2027.

Most Dangerous Cities in Iowa (2027)

1
C+
Bettendorf26.1/1K · Moderate · Violent: 408/100K
2
C+
Ankeny25.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 462/100K
3
C+
Waukee25.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 348/100K
4
C+
Council Bluffs25.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 366/100K
5
C+
Urbandale25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 368/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa Safety in 2027

What is the safest city in Iowa in 2027?
Based on the latest FBI UCR data projected into 2027, Le Mars is the safest city in Iowa with a crime rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents and a B safety grade. It ranks above 61% of all US cities.
What are the top safest cities in Iowa for 2027?
The safest cities in Iowa for 2027, ranked by lowest crime rate: Le Mars, Pleasant Hill, Storm Lake, Carroll, Norwalk, Boone, Johnston, Clive, Waterloo, Waverly. Based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.
What is the most dangerous city in Iowa in 2027?
Bettendorf has the highest crime rate in Iowa at 26.1 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade in the 2027 rankings.
How are Iowa 2027 safety rankings calculated?
Rankings use 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data — the most recent complete dataset — as the baseline for 2027 projections. Cities are graded A+ through F based on combined violent and property crime rates compared to national distributions. Rankings will be updated when 2024 FBI data is released.
Is Iowa safe to live in 2027?
Iowa has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 389 per 100K (national: 363.8). Safety varies by city — Le Mars earns a B while Bettendorf gets a C+.
Back to 2027 national rankingsView current Iowa safety gradesSafest cities in Iowa

2027 rankings are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data — the most recent complete dataset available. Rankings will be updated when 2024 data is released by the FBI in late 2025. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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