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D

Is Council Bluffs, Iowa Safe?

Population 62,680 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate below the national average, Council Bluffs faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 84% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,595 per 100K.

Council Bluffs Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCouncil BluffsIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate295.0332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2401.82075.01,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1595.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate329.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

269.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

295/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2402/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Council Bluffs

Violent crime in Council Bluffs is below the national average. The rate of 295.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2401.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,595 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Council Bluffs Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary272
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,595
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft329
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Council Bluffs Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Council Bluffs
295.0
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Council Bluffs
2401.8
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Council Bluffs Safety

Is Council Bluffs safe?
Not especially. Council Bluffs earns a D with a crime rate of 269.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Council Bluffs?
269.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 295.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2401.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Council Bluffs safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Council Bluffs's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,595 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Council Bluffs?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Council Bluffs generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Council Bluffs police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Council Bluffs?
No. Crime in Council Bluffs has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Council Bluffs compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Council Bluffs ranks behind about 87% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Council Bluffs to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Council Bluffs?
Bad. A D grade and 269.7 per-thousand rate put Council Bluffs below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 295 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Council Bluffs?
295.0 per 100,000, which is 19% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (59), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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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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