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C-

Is Dubuque, Iowa Safe?

Population 59,148 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Dubuque, Iowa sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 227.5 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime above the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,482 per 100K.

Dubuque Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricDubuqueIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate426.6332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1848.82075.01,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate340.0--268.2
Theft Rate1482.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate198.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

227.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

427/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1849/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Dubuque

Violent crime in Dubuque is above the national average. The rate of 426.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1848.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,482 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 340 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Dubuque Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault340
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery66
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary218
081% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,482
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft198
062% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Dubuque Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Dubuque
426.6
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Dubuque
1848.8
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Dubuque Safety

Is Dubuque safe?
Not especially. Dubuque earns a C- with a crime rate of 227.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Dubuque?
227.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 426.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1848.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Dubuque safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Dubuque's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,482 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Dubuque?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Dubuque generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Dubuque police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Dubuque?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Dubuque's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Dubuque compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Dubuque ranks behind about 80% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Dubuque to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Dubuque?
Bad. A C- grade and 227.5 per-thousand rate put Dubuque below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 427 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Dubuque?
426.6 per 100,000, which is 17% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (340), robbery (66), and murder (8.0) 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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