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D

Is Cedar Falls, Iowa Safe?

Population 41,240 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cedar Falls has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 264.4 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,711 per 100K.

Cedar Falls Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCedar FallsIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate419.5332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2224.32075.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate299.0--268.2
Theft Rate1711.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate400.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

264.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

420/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2224/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cedar Falls

Violent crime in Cedar Falls is above the national average. The rate of 419.5 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2224.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,711 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cedar Falls Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault299
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery64
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary383
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,711
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft400
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Cedar Falls Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cedar Falls
419.5
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cedar Falls
2224.3
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Falls Safety

Is Cedar Falls safe?
Not especially. Cedar Falls earns a D with a crime rate of 264.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cedar Falls?
264.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 419.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2224.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cedar Falls safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cedar Falls's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,711 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cedar Falls?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cedar Falls generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cedar Falls police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cedar Falls?
Crime rates have held steady in Cedar Falls, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Cedar Falls compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Cedar Falls ranks behind about 91% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Cedar Falls to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Cedar Falls?
Bad. A D grade and 264.4 per-thousand rate put Cedar Falls below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 420 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cedar Falls?
419.5 per 100,000, which is 15% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (299), robbery (64), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

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View all Iowa city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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