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C-

Is Grimes, Iowa Safe?

Population 17,405 · Safer than 26% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Grimes is a smaller community of 17,405 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 238.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,489 per 100K.

Grimes Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricGrimesIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate329.1332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2053.02075.01,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate199.0--268.2
Theft Rate1489.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate181.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

238.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

329/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2053/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Grimes

Violent crime in Grimes is close to the national average. The rate of 329.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2053.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,489 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Grimes Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault199
074% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery62
098% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary360
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,489
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft181
057% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Grimes Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Grimes
329.1
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Grimes
2053.0
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Grimes Safety

Is Grimes safe?
Not especially. Grimes earns a C- with a crime rate of 238.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Grimes?
238.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 329.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2053.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Grimes safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Grimes's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,489 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Grimes?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Grimes generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Grimes police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Grimes?
No. Crime in Grimes has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Grimes compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Grimes ranks behind about 68% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Grimes to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Grimes?
Bad. A C- grade and 238.2 per-thousand rate put Grimes below 74% of US cities. Violent crime at 329 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Grimes?
329.1 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (199), robbery (62), and murder (5.0) 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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